Planting beneath trees
2026-05-18T13:27:32+10:00
Under trees is prime garden real estate, where you can grow a living mulch that protects the soil, reduces maintenance and supports beneficial insects.
In many gardens, space under established trees is under-utilised or overlooked. Often this area is deemed too challenging, but it needn’t be that way. Be it eucalyptus, fruit trees, deciduous or evergreen, planting under trees is possible and can add design interest for the garden user and increase planting diversity that encourages beneficial bugs, diverse soil microbes and fauna habitat.
When trialling something new in this section of your garden, start with one plant. It saves money if the experiment fails. But if it thrives, come back and plant in groups of three or more. Repeating plants in clusters fills gaps quickly and is a simple design trick that helps a space feel cohesive.
Here’s what to do when looking to optimise space under particular types of trees:
Pine trees and other conifers
Opportunities: To grow acid-loving plants and flowering shrubs.
Challenges: Nutrient loss, acidifying needles and dense, dry shade.
- Azaleas
- Blueberries
- Rhododendrons
- Bergenia
- Bromeliads
- Heuchera
- Prostrate juniper
- Ajuga
Evergreens
Challenges: Nutrient and moisture loss, plus dense shade.
Opportunities: Perfect for shade lovers. These trees often provide some frost protection.
- Clivia spp.
- Arthropodium spp.
- Liriope spp.
- Plectranthus spp.
- Viola hederacea
- Hellebores spp.
- Pulmonaria spp.
Fruit trees
Challenges: Ensuring under plantings don’t rob fruit trees of the nutrients needed for healthy harvests.
Opportunities: Reducing pest pressure by attracting beneficial insects.
- Rhubarb
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Alyssum
- Lobelia
- Dwarf cosmos
Underplanting eucalypts
Planting beneath eucalyptus is one of the most common challenges I am asked about. As always, the best guide is nature.
I tend to lean on tough natives that already thrive in these conditions. Hardenbergia, westringia, lomandra, correa, dianella, pigface, plectranthus, myoporum and saltbush are all reliable choices.
You could also try smaller acacia, xerochrysum, epacris, eremophila, philotheca and prostanthera.
There are also plenty of hardy exotics that cope well underneath eucalypts. Agave, arthropodium, clivia, cotyledon, rosemary, crassula, helichrysum, santolina, teucrium, stachys and tulbaghia are all worth considering.
You can read Cass Hooke’s full article in our Early Winter 2026 issue (OG 165). You’ll find it in newsagents and selected supermarkets. Or you can subscribe here to get an issue delivered to your door!
