Planting under trees

[justgivein]

Hoping any advice for growing plants under trees.I have a friend that needs colour at the base of descidous trees without harming the trees.Apart from bluebells any colourful ground cover that you have success with and how deep with extra soil did you apply.Also acid lovers is it ok to plant these among tree roots.Thanks.

In nature, it is flowers that bloom earlier in the season that do better, because once trees are in full leaf it will be too shady for them. Otherwise you need to go for stuff that likes deep shade, and they tend to be greenery rather than flowering or variegated plants.

Thanks .Is it ok to spread soil or leaf mulch over tree roots first.I saw periwinkle under a tree for summer.How about any bulbs or primroses in summer,would these work.Could you plant rhododendums in shallow ericaceous without effecting tree roots thanks if anyone has planted these,,thanks.

Crainsbill geraniums, yellow flowered and sliver leaved Lamium have done well under my trees.

I have a big cherry tree with heuchera, yarrow, geum, muscari and primroses underneath which all do well.
I do thin it over summer though so it’s never deep deep shade.

In another part of the garden I have alpine strawberries and campanula in shade so they might do okay under a tree too.

@Beebumble2 thanks she really likes Lamium and yellow flowered have never seen this one.Geraniums probably work dappled shade too excellent.
@TheDiddlyGang thanks Heuchera the red ones are lovely are shallow rooting I think so will work great.Think I better not smother all the roots for the tree .I have got a Mahonia under my tree so will slip this in too.Still a tad confused about deep soil needed for Azaleas,roddies, hydrangeas better not risk these.Thanks for ideas that will work

You cold grow azaleas and Rhododendrons in large pots under the trees. There are small versions that do well in planters, then if they don’t look like they’re doing well you can move them.

Thanks a couple of these on the outskirts would look great will try these and go to my local nursery he's really good value. Thanks

I love cyclamen under trees, they disappear and you forget about them then one day you look, and surprise, they are back again!

I have a guelder rose , more a bush than a tree, but I do keep the canopy of it quite high, and I grow hellebore under. They must be happy there, I have about 50 seedlings to do something with!

I grow Italian arum under what is left of my apple tree, and you can grow things up apple trees too, like less vigorous clematis or honey suckle.

I've seen that once before thanks .Arums are beautiful but I didn't know they were poisonous, I do now.I had a cuckoo pint in our woodland garden years ago.Arums definitely beautiful. Added to the list along with Hellebore in the shade,love those.Thanks

How big are the trees? We have some really big ones and very little grows under there as the trees suck all the moisture out the ground. So if it’s quite large I’d advise going for plants that like dry conditions.

About 80ft.She is not clearing the leaves now so will always be a thick layer of damp leaves.Funnily enough she told me she already has Italium Arum now in the corner.It really is like a mini woodland with ferns but her geraniums have disappeared probably under the leaves.So it will have to be damp dappled/part/deep shade loving plants.Probably will be very acidic now so great for various arums and acid lovers and Hostas,cyclamens aswell.Thanks.

80 foot high trees? Then she needs plants that like dry soil.