The plants listed here are all tolerant of the drier and somewhat more acid environment under conifers (pine, spruce, fir, etc.). The number one reason that plants struggle when planted under pines is the lack of water. Evergreens have deep roots which can take up a great deal of water. New plantings under pine trees benefit from extra watering in their first year.
Planting Tips:
Keep in mind the mature heights of plants as well as their mature width. The height of the tree and the height of its lowest branches will influence how tall the under-planting should be.
In an effort to disturb tree roots as little as possible, plant small-size container plants (2-1/2″ to 4″ pots), even if they will grow to a much bigger mature size.
It is a good idea to mulch your transplants, especially when newly planted. The new small plants are sharing the available moisture with a large tree. Mulch will help to retain valuable water. In a woodland environment plants benefit from the cover of leaves and pine needles.
Flowering Herbacious Plants
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Soil Moiture | Notes |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Bearberry | 6″ – 1′ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
| Asarum canadense | Wild Ginger | 1’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Aquilegia canadensis | Columbine | 2-4’ | Dry-medium | Deer resistant, hummingbirds |
| Aster divaricatus | White Woodland Aster | 2-4’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Aster cordifolius | Heart Leaved Aster | 2-3’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Geranium maculatum | Wild Geranium | 1-2’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Helianthus strumosus | Woodland Sunflower | 3-5’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous, Bird, Deer resistant |
| Podophyllum peltatum | Mayapple | 1-2’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous. Foliage dies back in late summer. |
| Polemonium reptans | Jacob’s Ladder | 1-2’ | Medium | Excellent texured foliage. |
| Maianthemum racemosum | Solomon’s Plume | 1-3’ | Medium | Rhizomatous |
| Maiantemum stellatum | Starry Solomon’s Plume | 1-2’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Solidago flexicaulis | Zigzag Goldenrod | 2-4’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous |
| Solidago odora | Anise Scented Goldenrod | 1-2’ | Dry-medium | |
| Uvularia grandiflora | Bellwort | 1-2’ | Dry-medium | Spring Ephemeral. |
Ferns
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Soil Moiture | Notes |
| Adiantum pedatum | Maidenhair Fern | 1′ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
| Athyrium felix-femina | Lady Fern | 1’-2′ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
| Gymnocarpium Dryopteris | Oak Fern | 6″-1’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
| Osmunda regalis | Royal Fern | 3′-6′ | Moist | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
Sedges
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Soil Moiture | Notes |
| Carex eburnea | Ivory Sedge | 4”’-11″ | Dry-medium | Deer resistant |
| Carex pensylvanica | Pennsylvania Sedge | 1’ | Dry-medium | Rhizomatous; Deer resistant |
Bearberry, growing under pines and among the juniper
along the Lake Michigan shoreline:
