Underplanting trees can be complicated, especially when it comes to shallow-rooted trees. Below you will find out which plants are suitable for planting under trees and what should be taken into account with shallow roots.
Which plants are suitable for planting under trees?
Plants that require little light and water are suitable under trees, e.g. Balkan cranesbill, fairy flower, ivy and hosta. When it comes to shallow roots, the selection is limited. Mulching or gravel minimizes moisture loss through evaporation.
Shallow-rooted or deep-rooted
Shallow-rooted trees are particularly difficult to plant under because they leave little space for the roots of other plants and take up water and nutrients for themselves. The shallow-rooted species include:
- Banks Pine
- Birch
- Douglas fir
- Spruce
- hornbeam
- Hazelnut
- Magnolia
- Norway maple
- Willow
Deep-rooted plants, on the other hand, do not fight for space or water with above-ground plants and are therefore easy to plant underneath. These include:
- Apple tree
- rowan tree
- Yew
- Oak
- Pine
- Cherry tree
- Linde
- Plum tree
You can plant any plants that can cope with the prevailing lighting conditions under deep-rooted plants. The selection of plants for planting under shallow-rooted trees is more limited.
The best plants for planting under trees with shallow roots
There is little light, especially under large trees. In addition, the foliage catches the rain and the roots suck the water out of the ground. Therefore, plants that can cope with little light and water, such as forest perennials, are particularly suitable for underplanting. For planting under open or small trees, the selection of plants is larger and if you also want to plant moisture-loving plants, you can use a hose every now and then or plant them as far away from the trunk as possible. Below is an overview of the plants that are suitable for planting under trees:
| Name | Shadow/Penumbra | Tolerates drought | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balkan Cranesbill | Penumbra or shadow | Yes | Wintergreen ground cover |
| Bergenie | Penumbra | Less | Blooms beautifully in spring |
| Brown Cranesbill | Penumbra or shadow | Yes | Beautiful flowers from May to August |
| Ivy | Shade to partial shade | Yes | Climb up the trunk, for big trees |
| Elf Flower | Shade to partial shade | Yes | Very pretty flowers |
| Ferns | Part shade to shade | No | Poisonous |
| Foxglove | Penumbra or shadow | Yes | Poisonous |
| Funkie | Part shade to shade | Yes | Often beautiful leaf decorations |
| Golden strawberry | Part shade to shade | Yes | Yellow flowers in April/May |
| Large Star Umbel | Partial shade | Yes | Beautiful, white to pink flowers |
| Japan gold ribbon grass | Penumbra | Less | Bright yellow-green foliage |
| Japan sedge | variety dependent | No | Robust, winterproof |
| Small Periwinkle | Shadow to Sun | Yes | Groundcover |
| Cloveroot | Part shade to shade | Less | Medicinal and spice plant |
| hellebore | Sun to partial shade | Yes | Poisonous |
| Astilbe | Penumbra | Less | Brightly colored flowers |
| Purple Bells | Less | Penumbra | Often colorful foliage |
| Star Umbel | Penumbra | Less | Beautiful, pink to white flowers |
| Forest Aster | Sun to shade | Less | Silvery flowers, very easy to care for |
| Forest Poppy | Penumbra | Less | Orange to yellow flowers from June to October |
Tip
Cover the soil around your plants under the tree with mulch, gravel or nutshells to reduce moisture loss through evaporation.
