Return to the Trees & Shrubs Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
what will grow under a cypress pine
| | |
Posted by micheler SA Aust (My Page) on Thu, Apr 22, 04 at 6:35
| I have a large shrub cypress pine in my garden. I would like to plant some smaller plants under it but have heard that some pine trees foliage is toxic to plants...Anyone have any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: what will grow under a cypress pine
| | |
| I know there is some scientific explanation for the toxicity but can't remember what it is. As far as I am concerned, the biggest problem is that pines seem to soak up every bit of moisture there is and send little fine feeder roots into anything that is cultivated and/or watered. I have a deodar (spelling?) which is a beautiful tree. But so thirsty! Underneath it I grow mahonias (not the holly leaf one), which are incredibly hardy, and lots of succulents. The deodar gives frost protection for them and the greys/blues/pinks provide a good colour contrast. I'd like some of the really dark (blackish) succulents but haven't found one yet that will survive our winters. I use the fallen pine needles as mulch around my camellias and they don't seem to mind one bit. |
RE: what will grow under a cypress pine
| | |
| I have seen periwinkle doing just fine under pines both the white and the purple. Also I guess the acid lovers like azalea and rhodendron may be O.K but you would have to keep the water up. |
RE: what will grow under a cypress pine
| | |
| I'd grow the azaleas, etc., somewhere else and mulch with the pine needles. It would be very difficult to maintain the moisture. Also, in the interests of water conservation, not to mention the user pay principles espoused by councils these days, it is much better to group plantings according to their water needs. The other thing I have discovered when I tried to grow ferns near conifers is that the tree roots really appreciated the moist, humus rich soil I supplied for the ferns - it was full of fine feeder roots in no time! The ferns were not able to compete with the conifers. The only one that did any good was the asparagus fern - and I would not recommend it as a ground cover. Much too thorny. |
|
|
|
|
