What to grow under a tree? Plants, flowers, shrubs

Is it possible to plant under trees?

Yes, it is entirely possible to plant crops under trees by taking into account the growing conditions they offer and choosing plants that will support them. Let’s see what makes these spaces special:

• Light side: by blocking the passage of light, the foliage of the trees creates a shaded area where certain plants will not be able to develop. Under a tree, you must therefore forget about plants that need sun and turn to plants that appreciate shade.
• Ground side: it must also be taken into account and adapted to the needs of the selected plant. Furthermore, you must not forget the root system of your tree which can clutter the underground space, or even the surface in the case of certain trees. You must therefore turn to plants with a small root system to prevent the roots from competing with each other.
• Water side: As you have probably noticed, the ground under a tree is often dry. In fact, the foliage of the tree constitutes a real umbrella which prevents water from reaching the ground.

In terms of light and water, the conditions imposed by the tree vary depending on whether its foliage is evergreen or deciduousor depending on whether it is denser or lighter, because it then lets more or less light filter through.

All of this means that living conditions under a tree can be difficult and it is important to choose the plants to plant under them carefully.

Plant suggestions based on your tree’s foliage type

A first option for choosing your plants is to select those that will be able to grow based on the type of foliage on your tree.

Under a tree with light foliage

If you have a tree with light foliage such as a birch, an apple tree, a pear tree, etc., the choice of plants will be easier, because this type of tree allows a little light and water to filter through. You can then opt for plants that tolerate partial shade, such as undergrowth plants, for perennial ground cover plants, without forgetting spring bulb plants.

Here are some examples of suitable plants:

• helleborea rhizomatous perennial;
• columbinea perennial with blue flowers;
• cyclamena tuberous perennial with elegant flowering;
• azaleaa garden classic;
• the periwinklea covering perennial;
• comfreya perennial ground cover;
• etc.

Under a tree with dense but deciduous foliage

For a tree with denser, deciduous foliage, like linden or ash, it will be necessary to choose plants that tolerate the light being strongly filtered below in order to develop there. However, in winter and early spring, before the leaves appear, you can brighten up the space with winter or spring bulb plants.

Here are some examples of plants to turn to:

• the dicentraa perennial plant;
• the golden cuttera carpet plant with bright yellow flowers;
• small-flowered periwinklean evergreen ground cover with white, star-shaped flowers;
• osmanthusa shrub ;
• will brown hima perennial with spring flowering;
• the aucuba of Japanan undemanding shrub;
• rhododendron ;
• the leucothoea small evergreen shrub;
• the hostaa perennial;
• the snowdropa small bulb plant that emerges in January;
• the bluebellanother bulb plant that flowers from April;
• cyclamena tuberous perennial with elegant flowering;
• etc.

Under an evergreen tree or conifer

More difficult to achieve, arrangements under these types of trees require robust plants. For this type of environment, it is possible to choose plants such as:

• perennial geraniuma plant which forms a beautiful carpet;
• the primrose ;
• the Naples cyclamenknown for growing where nothing grows;
• the Heather ;
• herbaceous clematis ;
• ornamental ivyan ivy that is not invasive;
• etc.

Under a tree with big roots

Some trees have a very developed root system, like maple or weeping willowand it is important, in this case, to choose plants whose roots are not imposing in order to prevent them from intertwining.

Here are some plants to turn to:

• the camellia;
• thrush;
• cyclamen;
• Persian violet;
• the fern ;
• Iberis;
• etc.

Discover the plants that can grow under trees

If beyond the conditions imposed by the foliage of your tree, you are looking for a very specific type of plant according to your tastes and the aesthetic effect you wish to obtain, we offer you a selection of ground cover plants, flowering perennials and shrubs to grow under a tree.

Ground cover plants to grow under a tree

They allow you to create a carpet of greenery under a tree, but depending on the type of undergrowth, they may have difficulty flowering since a minimum of light is necessary for flowering. You can opt for the following plants:

• the Naples cyclamenwhich will light up dark spaces in autumn;
• the little periwinklewhich accepts even dense shadow areas;
• cobbler grasswhich allows you to quickly benefit from a ground cover with early flowering;
• the Caucasian forget-me-notwhich has the advantage of being very rustic;
• sweet woodruffwhich spreads thanks to its rhizomes.

Flowering perennials to grow under a tree

If you want to enjoy perennial plants that flower under your tree, you can opt for the following plants:

• Mary’s heartwhich is adorned with a heart-shaped flowering;
• the great astrancewhich is a herbaceous perennial growing in light shade;
• cimicifugawhich is a hardy perennial;
• the punctuated lysimachuswhich forms erect tufts;
• the goat’s beardor queen-of-the-woods, which likes cool shade.

Shrubs to grow under a tree

Some shrubs can be grown under a tree and create different levels. These are generally heather shrubs, such as:

• large-flowered rhododendron ideally installed when in partial shade;
• Japanese maplewhich is a small, slow-growing tree;
• the bell-shaped andromedawhich is a bushy and decorative shrub;
• Chinese viburnumwhich is very rustic;
• oak leaf hydrangeawhich features decorative leaves.

Pairing suggestions