Skip to main content

Fruits that grow in shade for backyards with lower light

Growing fruit in your shady backyard

Pomegranate tree with ripening fruit
AselvadaAna/Pixabay

If you’ve ever picked your own fruit in the wide open spaces of an orchard, it’s easy to get the impression that fruit trees thrive in nothing less than full sun. The truth is that some crops really do need full sun, but there are also quite a few shade-tolerant fruit trees. Fruits that grow in shade include currants, Alpine strawberries, and even some kiwi vines! There are also ways you can improve the lighting in your yard, letting you grow a wider variety of fruits. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about growing fruit in a shady backyard.

Close-up picking plums from a tree
Minoli/Shutterstock

Fruit trees need sunlight

It’s no secret that plants need sunlight to feed themselves through photosynthesis. Plentiful sunshine allows trees to convert energy from light into sugar to fuel flower production and fruit development. And, although the green skin on immature fruit can perform photosynthesis, the fruit still requires supplemental sugars provided by nearby leaves as its primary source. So, the leaves in the immediate area surrounding an individual fruit have the most influence on that fruit’s development.

The quality of individual fruits also increases with light exposure, regardless of the nearby leaves. Fruits exposed to optimal light conditions attain higher sugar levels, increased flavor complexity, and a greater depth of color. Since color, flavor, and sweetness are important attributes of fruit, we should be aware that optimal light reaching both the leaves and fruit leads to higher quality overall.

But too much of a good thing can be bad. When developing fruit is overexposed to sunlight and high temperatures, it results in sunburn. Too much light is not often a problem in partial sun landscapes unless the sun hits during its greatest intensity in midday and early afternoon.

Pear tree branch with ripe pears
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

Sunlight use

There are some trees that need full sun all day long to make the best fruit, while others can produce a good crop with only six hours of direct sun. These partial shade fruit trees include pears, plums, and the American native pawpaw. Numerous small fruits produce well in partial shade, including raspberries, blackberries, and the other so-called bramble berries. Also, some grapes, including muscadines and scuppernongs, produce fine crops in just six hours of sunlight.

Although deep, dark shade precludes fruit production, a high, bright tree canopy with dappled sunlight peeking through provides enough light for several other fruiting shrubs. Serviceberry, blueberry, huckleberry, gooseberry, and currant thrive in filtered sunlight. Hardy kiwi vines thrive in low light as well; just be sure to plant both male and female vines. Alpine strawberries, too, produce abundant yields in dappled shade.

Manicured lawn with flower beds beneath shade trees
Hannamariah/Shutterstock

The danger of too much shade

Even with good plant selection, there may come a time when the shade starts taking a toll on your fruit trees. Some signs that plants are getting too much shade include reduced fruit yield, an increase in plant diseases or insect pests, and a bigger water bill. Excessive shade hinders photosynthesis, leading to diminished fruit yield and quality. If the tree cannot feed itself, it is at a greater risk of damaging insect infestation. A dense canopy overhead also inhibits airflow and rainfall. Stagnant air leads to fungal disease problems. Reduced rainfall leads to increased irrigation. If these symptoms arise, it’s time to let in more light.

Ripe huckleberries on the plant
romiri/Shutterstock

Prune for better light penetration

If sunlight is minimal, it probably won’t get better with time. Shade trees continue to grow, as do fruit trees. Pruning becomes a critical piece of the routine. A certified arborist can safely thin the canopies of tall shade trees to allow more sunlight and air circulation in the area, both of which will benefit fruit trees. This work should be done every one to five years, depending on the climate and the types of trees.

Regular fruit tree pruning also increases light penetration, which improves fruit quality. Summer and winter pruning are beneficial for different reasons. In winter, remove dead, weak, or diseased branches, and branches that cross over or rub. Winter pruning allows trees to focus their energy on the strong, healthy wood when spring growth starts. In summer, remove branches that are unsafe, non-productive, or too big. Both types of pruning can be done to increase sunlight and air circulation within the foliage.

Apple harvest
Natalie Grainger/Unsplash

Which fruits need the least sun?

If your backyard is more shaded than most, or if you want to try growing fruit indoors, then you might wonder which fruits that grow in shade need the least amount of sun. Berries that naturally grow in the underbrush of forests need the fewest hours of sun on average. At the top of your list should be gooseberries and currants, especially black currants and white currants. While red currants can grow in shade as well, your harvest is likely to be slightly smaller. Gooseberries in particular prefer shade in hotter climates.

Your semi-shade backyard is not a hindrance to growing fruit trees when you make sunlight management a part of their routine care and maintenance. Select shade-tolerant varieties, and be sure to prune them for an open branch structure. Watch for signs of stress, such as decreased fruit production or increase in pest problems; and thin the canopies of overhead trees periodically for better sunlight penetration. Your trees will reward you with a ready supply of delicious homegrown fruit.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Wolfe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mark Wolfe is a freelance writer who specializes in garden, landscaping, and home improvement. After two decades in the…
When should you harvest watermelons? What you need to know
Get the timing right for your watermelon harvest
Freshly cut watermelon slices

Knowing when to harvest watermelons can be tricky, especially if you’re used to growing crops like tomatoes, where there’s an obvious physical change (like turning from green to red) that indicates ripeness. Watermelons go through more subtle changes, so they can be difficult to spot if you don't know what to look for. If you're wondering if your watermelons are ready to harvest, this is the guide for you. We'll break down everything you need to know about when to harvest watermelons for the perfect summer snack!

How to tell your watermelons are ready for harvesting
Most watermelon varieties are ready to harvest roughly 1 month after the plant has bloomed, or 2 to 3 months after planting your watermelon seeds. The exact time can vary depending on the type of watermelons you're growing, what the weather has been like, and whether all the plant's needs have been met.

Read more
Are you asking, ‘Why is my tomato plant wilting?’ Here’s how to be the hero in your garden
Properly water and inspect your tomatoes to prevent (or treat) wilting
Tomatoes on a tomato plant

Tomatoes are probably the most popular veggies grown at home. Even novice growers can grow these plants with little to no experience in growing anything. Even better, many of these beginners are successful because tomatoes are so easy to care for and grow in your own home. However, one of the most common questions about growing tomatoes is, "Why is my tomato plant wilting?" Well, it could be due to a few reasons. We'll take a look at them here and give you tips on how to get your tomato plants back into tip-top shape. 

Why do people grow tomato plants?
Let's first talk about why you want to grow tomato plants. Growing tomatoes at home has a lot of benefits. First, they're healthier than store-bought tomatoes, and they taste better, too! There's no denying that tomatoes grown at home have a richer flavor. Once you eat your own tomatoes, you'll likely find the store-bought ones flat and watery by comparison.

Read more
This is how to know when to harvest your peas for maximum flavor and crispiness
Find out when your peas are just right for the picking
Organic green sugar snap peas

If you're looking to start a vegetable garden or just add to the one you already have, consider growing peas. These green pods are some of the easiest spring vegetables to grow — they even work as indoor vegetables. They tolerate cold temperatures and moist conditions quite well and don’t need much fertilizer to thrive. Best of all, their crisp texture and sweet flavor make them versatile veggies in the kitchen. The only thing that's tricky about growing peas is knowing when to time your harvest. If you're having trouble figuring out when to harvest peas, keep reading to know when to get the freshest, sweetest, and crispest peas.

Quick tips on growing peas
Even before you get to harvesting, you want to care for your peas so they grow healthy, strong, and delicious — luckily, they're pretty low-maintenance vegetables. Here are some tips to start your pea-growing journey:

Read more