Underplanting ideas

[SBAM]

I have a new raised bed in my garden, split into 3 sections which I want to plant 3 dwarf trees in, probably one ornamental and two fruit trees. Each section is about 1.5-2m long and just under 1m wide.
What can I plant around the base of the trees? I’m not a huge fan of bare soil, I don’t want annuals, and ideally I’d like it to have year round interest.

What aspect is it?

Lavender is nice for under planting and has year round interest as the foliage is evergreen. You need to be careful with water though as the trees will need water while they're establishing but lavender mustn't too wet.

I've got lavender under a young apple tree and this is a tricky balance but it looks pretty and the bees love it too.

I'm planning to intersperse the lavender with nepeta this year, which I've got elsewhere in the garden and is pretty, long flowering and is a bee magnet. It's not evergreen but perhaps you could also plant some spring bulbs (snowdrops, narcissi) in the same spot to extend the interest?

Do you want small shrub height or lower than that?

Small evergreen shrub height:

Hebe topiaria (ok in shade, happier in sun)
Sarcococca (happy in shade)
Rosemary (needs sun)
Daphne (Some are ok with shade)
Convulvulus cneorum (needs sun)
Lavender (needs sun)

Evergreen low plants/ground cover

Tiarella (ok in shade)
Vinca (ok in shade)
Creeping thyme (needs sun)

Probably loads of other options this is just what I have!

I would also add in some perennial bulbs like snowdrops, muscari for spring interest, and hellebores, perennial cyclamen for winter interest.

Hydrangeas do well under trees but are not year round so you could intersperse with something evergreen

I have Euphorbia, cyclamen, sedum, snowdrops and bluebells, some hardy geraniums, ferns. Hostas, hellebore, borgenia. Forgetmenots (and chinese forgetmenots). There are lots of trees in my garden!

@MunsteadWood the bed runs east-west so gets a decent amount of sun, but shaded mid-afternoon onward from the west side by neighbours trees.

thanks for the suggestions @minipie @Wasywasydoodah I’ve got some spring bulbs already, I’ll do some research on those shrubs.