Plants That Grow Under Trees

Learn about 17 plants that grow under trees. All are easy to grow and good ideas to add to your garden shopping list this season.

Most homes have a few trees around the property, and often it's hard to know what will grow there. Today, I have a list of plants I have grown under trees. All enjoy a little shade, and many prefer full shade. Obviously, plants will receive less rain under trees, so they need to be able to thrive in drier conditions.

Below is a list of perennials (they come back year after year). My list is not complete. In addition, many annuals like impatiens and shrubs can also work under trees.

Each plant below gives you the USDA Hardiness Zone, light needs, bloom times, and whether they are deer/rabbit resistant. Also, the same plants can all be found in a wide variety of colors to choose from.

17 Plants That Grow Under Trees

Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' ground cover plant.

1. Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip'

Zones: 4-9
Light: Full Sun - Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Deer

Ajuga is known as a ground cover and creates a low dense mat in the garden. It will grow well under trees, but can also be grown in sunny areas, and will bloom better there. However, the blooms are insignificant compared to the foliage.

Bleeding heart with pink flowers in bloom.

2. Bleeding Heart

Zones: 3-9
Light: Partial Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Tolerates: Deer

Bleeding hearts are so beautiful. Nodding heart-shaped flowers, thus the name. They are native wildflowers and often die back early in the season, depending on the heat and weather.

3. Brunnera

Zones: 3-8
Light: Partial Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Deer and Rabbits

Brunnera has the most beautiful true blue "forget-me-not" type flowers in the springtime. The leaves stay pretty and green all season long. It does have a tendency to spread, and some may consider it invasive.

4. Epimedium

Zones: 5-9
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Deer, Rabbits, Drought

Epimedium has pretty foliage and beautiful yellow flowers in the spring. Also called Bishop's Hat for the flower shape. The leaves also have pretty fall color for three seasons of interest.

5. Japanese Painted Fern

Zones: 3-8
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: N/A
Tolerates: Deer, Rabbits

No blooms on this one, but the foliage is pretty in itself. Many ferns will grow under trees. I love seeing beautiful ferns that grow tall in the forest on a hike. You are not likely to find a Japanese painted fern there, however, it may be a good one for a home landscape, as it only reaches 18 inches at its mature height.

Pink geranium in flower aka bloody geranium.

6. Hardy Geranium

Zones: 3-8
Light: Full Sun - Part Shade
Bloom Time: Spring and Summer
Tolerates: Deer, Rabbits

This pink beauty, aka "Bloody Geranium," blooms just about anywhere in the garden. These hardy geraniums are one of my favorite perennials, and many of them will grow well under trees. I love the cottagey feel about them, and you can find them in a wide range of colors.

7. Heuchera

Zones: 4-8
Light: Full Sun - Part Shade
Bloom Time: Summer
Tolerates: Deer, Rabbits

Heuchera, commonly called 'Coral Bells,' is another good perennial that will grow in sun or shade and is small enough to plant under a tree. They do like a little bit of sun, so it's best to plant them somewhere that that receives light shade and dappled sun.

8. Hosta

Zones: 3-8
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Summer
Tolerates: Heavy Shade, Black Walnut Trees

Hostas are another easy-to-grow perennial that loves shade and grows well under trees. Most will bloom during the summer, but it's the wide variety of sizes, leaves, and leaf patterns that steal the show.

9. Lady's Mantle

Zones: 3-8
Light: Full Sun - Part Shade
Bloom Time: Spring and Summer
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer

The common name Lady's Mantle, scientific name Alchemilla mollis, comes from the scalloped leaf shape said to resemble that of the Virgin Mary's cloak. It produces bright chartreuse flowers that work well in flower arrangements.

10. Hellebore aka Lenten Rose

Zones: 4-9
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Late Winter-Early Spring
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer, Heavy Shade

One of the first flowers to bloom, usually in February or early March, thus the name Lenten Rose, as Lent usually begins at that time. This one is grown for the flowers, and they come in a wide variety of colors. Easy to grow and may self-seed.

Lily of the valley perennial close up of flowers.

11. Lily of the Valley

Zones: 3-8
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer, Heavy Shade

The white flowers on Lily of the Valley are so delicate and highly fragrant. I always cut a few flowers in the spring to bring them indoors, and they smell heavenly. Lily of the Valley loves shade. If you plant it in a spot that gets sun, the leaves may burn out. However, they will come back next year.

12. Pulmonaria aka Lungwort

Zones: 4-9
Light: Partial Shade - Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer, Heavy Shade, Walnut Trees

Lungwort is a reliable spring bloomer with many varieties to try, and they grow best in shade. However, I do have some that get a good deal of sun. The funny name is said to have come about because this plant was used to treat lung ailments, and the term "wort" in Old English means plant.

13. Vinca aka Periwinkle

Zones: 4-8
Light: Full Sun - Part Shade
Bloom Time: Spring and Summer
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer, Heavy Shade, Walnut Trees

Periwinkle is often planted as a ground cover. I have this variegated one growing at the top of our hillside. It's very vigorous and would probably grow anywhere. Sometimes I'll take cuttings for flower arrangements or dig up some for pots.

14. Primrose

Zones: 4-8
Light: Partial Shade
Bloom Time: Spring

Another early bloomer, the scientific genus name Primula means "little earliest one." This is another one that can grow under trees but will need some dappled sunlight. The ones shown above were given to me by a good friend, handed down from her father's garden. They make me smile every time they bloom.

Variegated Solomon's Seal in bloom. — Variegated Solomon's Seal

15. Solomon's Seal

Zones: 3-8
Light: Shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Tolerates: Drought, Heavy Shade

Solomon's seal is a beautiful plant for under trees or any shady spot. It gets these pretty, delicate flowers in the springtime that remind you of snowdrops. It's a little taller with arching stems reaching up to 2 feet. The foliage stays pretty all season long, and will spread though it's not invasive.

16. Tiarella aka Foamflower

Zones: 4-9
Light: Partial Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer

The foamflower reminds me of coral bells in its mounding habit, preferring some sun, though it will grow under trees. The flowers are quite different with flower spikes on short stems that look like foam, thus the name.

17. Windflower

Zones: 3-8
Light: Full Sun - Partial Shade
Bloom Time: Spring - Early Summer
Tolerates: Rabbit and Deer

Last but not least is the windflower. It was given to me by a friend, and I believe it's Anemone canadensis or Canadian Anemone. Native to Canada and North American this one grows vigorously for me in my front garden to the point where it is starting to take over.

I hope this list inspires you to find something that will work well for your home garden. After all, it's always fun to add a new plant to your garden shopping list.