What do you plant under pine trees??

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum - let me know if you think this question would do better somewhere else.

I bought my first house last fall, and have started planting things in the yard, as it was pretty neglected. My yard is rather small, but I have two HUGE pine trees that are much taller than the house! What kind of flowers or folliage will grow under a pine tree? Grass doesn't seem to do too well, and I thought it'd add a lot to have something growing around the trunk.

(I am zone 4)

Hosta, Heuchera, blueberry (high water needs - probably not a good one, however acid loving), dwarf/miniature hemlocks, Mahonia, Ribes, Junipers, cotoneaster, Achillia tomentosa, Artemesia, Hemerocallis, Iris (Pacific Coast and hybrids), Nepeta faassenii, Penstemon (BEARD TONGUE - 'some'), Salvia (most), Sedum (most), Thymus, Buxus, Euonymus fortunei, Hydrangea, Ilex, Rhododendron/Azalea, Viburnum tinus, Hedera (I hate Ivy!), Vinca (Periwinkle), Ajuga, Alchemilla, anemone, Aquilegia, Astilbe, Begonia, Campanula (some), Coleus, Cyclamen, Dicentra, Digitalis, Ferns, Gentiana, Geranium (Cranesbill), Impatiens Lamium maculatum, Lilium, Liriope, Lobelia (most), Lysimachia nummularia, Myosotis, Primula, Polygonatum, Pulmonaria, Tradescantia, Trillium, Viola.

Most taken from 'Sunset's Western Garden Book' for plants "Under Oaks" and "Plants for Shade".

Dax

Wow, thanks Dax!

I could probably make good use out of some plant books, as everything is new to me. I may have to pick up a few. :)

You got the internet baby.

That's all you need now.

Dax

One to add to that great list, for up there in your area, would be Comptonia.

Guy S.

Down here in the south if you have pines, you have an ideal planting spot in my opinion. There are so many plants that thrive in the dappled shade of pines.

Down here in the south we still have the So. pine beetle!!! I lost a landscape,because of them,but I,m trying to over come and adapt,I now have hardwoods,and lots of pine humas..Mike

Does it not depend upon the pine? Northern Red Pine, I think it is resinosa, throws a pretty acid needle and where we have solid stands nothing really grows under these trees. Not sure if the other pine needles are as toxic. Ken

Conifers mentioned Blueberrries (Vaccinium). For Zone 4 Lingonberries (also Vaccinium) would be better. They are cute and shiny and bloom twice. The native is Vaccinium vitis-ideae minor (4 to 6 inches). The commercial ones are cultivars of Vaccinium vitis-ideae: Masovia, Ida, Balsgard, Sussi. They reach 8 to 12 inches. There is the Northern Lights series of Azaleas developed by U of MN. Eventually I will get a Western Lights, but that is probably not the easiest to grow of the series.
All of the Wintergreens and Arbutus will grow under Pines. Gaultheria is the easy one. Pyrola and Chimaphila need Pisothithus and Rhizopogon fungi. They are considered impossible.
All of the plants that I mentioned lack tap roots and root hairs. They need fungi. Most are not particular Arbutus, Chimaphila and Pyrola are. Monotropa is the worst and will only co-grow with Milk Mushrooms (Russula or Lactarius). Hollies have similar roots. Most Hollies will not grow north of the Ohio river with the exception of Ilex rugosa hybrids. I have Blue Princess which is 1/4 English and 3/4 I. rugosa. There are dozens of Holly cultivars that include I. rugosa.
I have spores and plants to trade.

I have noted our native tall meadow rue, Thalictrum dasycarpum I believe, growing under a dense stand of Red (Norway) pine. This was just south of Minneapolis. Other wildings that seem to do well are gooseberry, bloodroot, wild ginger and poison ivy. Wild ginger will lay flat on the ground during a drought, but it doesn't seem to hurt it.

Rick

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Wow, so many to pick from - I'll have to look them all up. :) My pines' branches are at least 10 feet high - I'm easily able to walk underneath them. (Not sure if that makes a difference!) I should probably figure out what kind they are, too. I just have these huge brown spots in my front and back yard that don't look too great - would like to purty them up. :)

I love azaeleas, so I should check out those Northern Lights!

Where you live, you could try the beautiful bunchberry Cornus canadensis it spreads by roots nicely, but slowly. It is the only dogwood with the dogwood signature leaves and bracts native to MN. Only 8" high, be sure to put it out in front of taller acid lovers where it can be seen. You may have to order it through Forest Farm, however, I notice more nurseries are offering it up years after I beat the path to death looking for them!
I think blueberries are pretty plants - the ones in MN are usually cultivars developed at the UofM and rather short - to 3'. I don't see why they wouldn't do well under a pine in St. Cloud. Some are even self-pollinating, however, it is still better to get more than one kind.
Wild ginger is pretty and covers the ground quickly. It escapes its boundaries by stolons, but is easily pulled, if you like the plant. Be sure to get the American not the European, or you truly will have a weed.
I didn't have the luck with the Gualtheria there, it just dwindled out, but it is often found blending with the bunchberry.
The Blue princess and prince hollies grow very quickly up and out, even in MN. Although I would recommend these for your yard, under your pine might be too heavy artistically - you might want to envision from 30-50' away to find out if this is true. They can be trimmed to shape for a manicured look, but think of your whole scheme before deciding on this.

I like the idea of the azalea a lot, but it has such a short interest season, so be sure to plant around it perennials that will come up from the ground a little later. If you can get a penstemon to grow under there, that might be a good choice to replace the dying flowers of the azalea for early hummers.
10' height is a lot of space to work with.
Conifers mentioned viburnums - some can be pruned to tree form and do well in understory. That might help draw the eye up in your space.
Two more understory choices for height might be an Amelanchier or serviceberry - several cultivars and a Cornus alternifolia or Pagoda Dogwood (this one has awesome horizontal branching) both have pretty, airy foliage.
All are great plants for MN gardening, natives, but not overused.
All in all, you might find yourself more pleased with a more natural look. Soften the lines of the pine at the same time accentuate its stately height and beauty. Don't feel bound by the drip line.
I wouldn't mind seeing a pic.

"I didn't have the luck with the Gualtheria there...."
Indirt

It probably could not establish proper relationship with available fungi.

The former genus Ledum is extremely hardy. My favorite is Ledum decumbens a.k.a. Rhododenron subarcticum. The leaves are extremely narrow (yewish). All have a lot of tiny white flowers. They are evergreen.
Larry

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEPAD

This is your native species
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEGR

I had the Gaultheria growing where the bunchberry was. The bunchberry grew and spread, the G. just disappeared.
I think I tried to find the Labrador tea. No one carried it that I could find, but nurseries have changed since I have been there. It has very specific growing conditions - and does better if the conditions are natural vs. created w/ amendments. Ignote - if you have the conditions and can find it to plant, please do. It will be worth all your efforts. And what a rare specimen you will have to show off!

Congratulations on the house! I just bought my first house a couple months ago. The yard here, too, has been sadly neglected, so I'm planting flowers and vegetables.

The only couple things that occurred to me are lily of the valley and bleeding hearts, both of which like shade.

White Hydrangea - once you start lily of the valley, you won't be able to get rid of it. It takes over lawns and gardens like crazy. If you must have it, make sure it is contained by a sidewalk and driveway and house. Despite its short bloom season, it will fill in so that other plants have a lot of difficulty coming through. You will have a monoculture.

ignote - are you still following this thread?

I wonder if the invasiveness of lily of the valley is more of a southern problem. A dear friend from Texas cautioned me against planting it in our Arkansas yard. I went ahead and planted some . That was 22 years ago. It is in 2 differant locations, neither which are contained by boundries, and has never been invasive.
Marian

Marianinark- I don't know of anyone who has it here in TX, yet. It probably would not survive w/o lots of extra water where I live now. I used to live in MN where Ignote lives and it is very invasive there. It is not something I would suggest she use in her yard.

We had lily of the valley in Illinois when I was a kid. We planted it under the lilac bushes and behind the garage. I lived in that house for ten years, and it never took over. We gradually got more of them, but it was never invasive.

Besides, if I plant it under the peach tree where I'm thinking, maybe it'll squeeze out the Virginia Creeper.

I have Lily of the Valley in my yard that has been there for decades and I have no problem with it. It only comes up in late winter-early spring. By May it dies off from the heat.

As conifer already listed in his post, and one of my favorites for shade, Polygonatum falcatum 'Variegatum' (Variegated Solomon's Seal)

Here's Polygontatum odoratum 'Variegata' at The US National Arb:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Cultivar/US%20National%20Arboretum%20May%202006/?action=view¤t=Polygontatumodoratumvar.jpg&refPage=380&imgAnch=imgAnch382

Dax

I'm a little late to this thread, but would like to suggest epimedium and hellebores, both of which I have growing under a pine tree. They've done well there, and provide welcome early to mid-spring color. I live in northeastern Illinois.

Epimediums, definitely! They are remarkably drought tolerant in shade or dappled shade. And my two year experience with a hellebore also echoes Goldenberry's notes.

Thanks goldenberry! :)

I really like hellebores, so I'll have to add those to my list of possibilities. Epidemiums look pretty too, I'll have to see what local nurseries carry!

This is going to be a project for this fall or next spring, so you're not too late in answering at all. I haven't had a whole lot of attention to dedicate to it yet.