Finding shade-loving plants for under trees can be a difficult task. Select plants that withstand the heavy shade provided while transforming your garden landscape into an easy-care ground cover filled with beautiful low-ground plants. There are several plants that you can use to create an attractive landscape under your trees

Top plants thriving under trees

Wild ginger plants

The wild ginger is a ground cover plant thriving with little care. Wild ginger plants don’t attract much attention making it easy for your big garden tree to command all the attention. It is best to grow them without neighbouring plants as the plant tends to outcompete other plants in their landscape.

Shiny green leaves from wild ginger plants,

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Coral bells

Known for their wide range of coloured leaves, the coral bell often features unique colours of leaves which add an extra dimension to the plants growing under your trees. The shade from the tree enhances the bright colours of the coral bell’s leaves making it the perfect perennial to grow.

Coral bells shade plants

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Hosta plants

These ubiquitous plants can grow fast quickly populating the garden under your trees with broad or narrow leaves. The hostas are very long-lived plants that grow and multiply over the years. Once they are established, they are low-maintenance and require little care.

Mulching Hosta plants in a front yard garden with a wheelbarrow in front

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Ferns

Ferns add a touch of lush greenery to gardens and are available in different shapes and sizes. As tolerant perennials, they can appreciate indirect light but will do pretty well under shade.

Plant your ferns separately from other plants to avoid competition for water and nutrients due to their deep roots. Many gardeners however love them because they withstand fluctuations in moisture levels and soil quality.

Ferns growing under a tree

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Periwinkles

If you need a tough and aggressive plant under your tree, then the periwinkle is the one. The plants provide excellent erosion control, filling in perfectly for always washing away soil. Sprouting with blue flowers in spring, the periwinkle plants will do wonderfully under mature trees providing dense shade.

Periwinkle ornamental flowers in bloom over ground under a tree

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These perennial plants work well under most matured trees and will not take attention away from the tree being the focal point of your garden.

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Perennial Paradise: 5 Perennials to plant in your garden

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