Planting Under Trees
How to Plant Shade Plants Under Evergreens
By Jodi Torpey
One of the most difficult spots for planting is underneath dense evergreens. Gardeners often leave this planting spot bare or cover it in mulch because they think nothing will grow there.
Most gardeners believe it’s impossible to grow anything under evergreens because the soil is acidic there, but that’s not the reason. The reason it’s challenging is that evergreens have such fibrous and dense root systems, they compete with other plants for nutrients and water. And evergreens usually win.
Instead of avoiding this shady planting space, embrace it. You can create your own welcoming woodland retreat by taking a page from Mother Nature’s landscape design book. Just look for the plants that naturally grow under evergreens in forests. For example, one of the most surprising flowering plants that grows well under the dense shade of evergreens is golden columbine.
Another great plant for shade is Oregon grape also called Creeping Mahonia. This low-grower spreads nicely under evergreens and does well in our region’s alkaline soil. The yellow flowers that bloom in summer are an added bonus.
Other good plants for growing under trees include manzanitas, like Chieftain, that are low-growing evergreen groundcovers. Chieftain has oval leaves that turn an attractive dark green. There are even flowers that appear in late spring on plants that can grow to 2 feet tall and spread to 6 feet wide.
Another shade plant choice is the Mock bearberry manzanita. This evergreen groundcover that can thrive in well-drained soil. Mock bearberry grows about 12 inches tall and 48 inches wide.
If you’d prefer groundcovers that offer more color, you might want to plant…
…Periwinkle, also called vinca, is one of the most popular plants for the shade. Its glossy leaves, blue flowers and ability to spread quickly make it a nice choice for growing under trees.
…Deadnettle (Lamium) is another good perennial groundcover for the shade of your evergreens. Grow Deadnettle for its nice foliage that can range from silvery to blue-green.
…Ajuga (bugleweed) forms a dense mat of glossy leaves that always seem to look fresh, even in the heat. Purple is one of the most common colors for the Ajuga leaves; flower spikes show up in summer.
When shopping for shade plants, match those with similar light needs, as well as similar moisture needs. Many shade gardens planted under trees will have dry soil, but others are naturally moist because they’re located in low spots where water tends to collect.
