Finding plants that grow well beneath trees can be a real challenge for North Carolina gardeners. Those shady spots where grass refuses to grow often become bare patches of dirt or mud puddles after rain.
The competition from tree roots, lack of sunlight, and sometimes dry conditions create a tough environment for most plants.
After years of watching my lawn struggle beneath our old oak trees, I discovered that ground covers offer the perfect solution. These hardy, adaptable plants can transform those troublesome areas into lush, low-maintenance spaces that complement your landscape while protecting soil from erosion.
1. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Golden coins of foliage spread quickly across difficult terrain, making this ground cover ideal for areas where tree roots create uneven surfaces. The bright chartreuse leaves brighten up shady spots and create a striking contrast against darker mulch or soil.
During summer months, tiny yellow flowers appear, adding another dimension of interest. Many North Carolina gardeners appreciate how it handles our clay soils and humid conditions without complaint.
I’ve seen it flourish under maple trees where the shallow roots would normally prevent anything else from growing. Just be aware that in very moist areas, it can spread enthusiastically, so plant it where its growth can be contained naturally.
2. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Native to North Carolina woodlands, this adaptable perennial features heart-shaped leaves that create a natural-looking carpet beneath trees. Unlike many ground covers that can become invasive, wild ginger spreads at a manageable pace, making it perfect for gardeners who prefer a more controlled growth habit.
The deep green foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season. Curious brown-purple flowers appear in spring, hidden beneath the leaves close to the ground.
My neighbor’s yard features wild ginger beneath a stand of pines where the acidic soil and dry shade would challenge most plants. It’s particularly valuable since it’s native to our region and supports local ecology.
3. Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)
Unlike its Asian cousin, this native pachysandra thrives in North Carolina’s woodland conditions without becoming invasive. The mottled, silver-splashed leaves create visual interest even in the deepest shade, and small fragrant flowers appear in early spring before the trees leaf out.
What makes this plant exceptional is its ability to handle the dry conditions found beneath mature trees. Once established, it requires almost no maintenance and will slowly form dense patches that suppress weeds.
After planting some beneath our old hickory tree three years ago, I’ve been impressed by how it handles both summer drought and our occasional winter ice storms without missing a beat.
4. Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Delicate spires of frothy white flowers rise above maple-shaped foliage in spring, creating a magical woodland scene beneath tree canopies. This North Carolina native performs beautifully in the dappled shade of deciduous trees, where it can receive morning sunlight.
The semi-evergreen leaves often develop burgundy veining and highlights as temperatures cool in fall. Despite its delicate appearance, foam flower is surprisingly tough once established and can handle the root competition from trees.
Last year, I added several to the area beneath our dogwood where nothing else would grow. They’ve formed a charming colony that requires no special care beyond occasional watering during extreme drought.
5. Green And Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Bright yellow star-shaped flowers appear abundantly in spring and continue sporadically through summer, creating cheerful spots of color in shady areas. This southeastern native ground cover forms a dense mat of foliage that effectively suppresses weeds while allowing tree roots to breathe.
Semi-evergreen in most parts of North Carolina, green and gold maintains interest year-round. The textured leaves create an attractive carpet even when the plant isn’t flowering.
My favorite characteristic is how it thrives in that challenging transition zone between sun and shade. I’ve successfully used it to connect sunny garden beds with the shaded areas beneath our oak trees, creating a unified landscape.
6. Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Evergreen fronds maintain their deep green color throughout winter, explaining this fern’s festive name. The leathery texture and upright growth habit create an architectural element in the landscape, even beneath dense tree canopies where little else will grow.
As a North Carolina native, Christmas fern has adapted perfectly to our climate and soil conditions. The deep roots don’t compete with trees but instead help prevent erosion on slopes.
During a garden tour in Asheville last summer, I noticed how effectively these ferns were used beneath mature oaks in a woodland garden. They provided structure and consistency while allowing spring ephemeral wildflowers to grow between them.
7. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)
Miniature purple-blue flowers with gold crests appear in early spring, creating a stunning display beneath deciduous trees before they fully leaf out. Standing only about 6 inches tall, this diminutive native iris forms gradually expanding clumps through rhizomes.
The sword-shaped foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season, forming a neat groundcover. Despite its delicate appearance, dwarf crested iris handles the challenging conditions beneath trees with remarkable resilience.
A patch I established beneath our river birch has thrived for years with minimal care. The clay soil and periodic dry spells haven’t deterred it at all, making it perfect for North Carolina’s variable conditions.
8. Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
Tiny evergreen leaves create an intricate carpet across the forest floor, punctuated by bright red berries that persist through winter. This native woodland groundcover grows naturally beneath pine and hardwood trees throughout North Carolina, handling acidic soil conditions with ease.
The trailing stems root as they spread, helping it establish in difficult areas. White trumpet-shaped flowers appear in pairs during late spring, eventually forming the characteristic berries that give the plant its name.
During a recent hike in the Piedmont region, I spotted partridgeberry growing beautifully beneath mature hickories. Its natural presence in our forests makes it an authentic choice for woodland gardens trying to capture that native ecosystem feel.
9. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Whorls of bright green leaves create a lacy texture that softens the area beneath trees. In spring, tiny star-shaped white flowers appear, releasing a sweet vanilla-like fragrance that fills the garden. The dried leaves retain this pleasant scent for months.
Unlike many ground covers, sweet woodruff doesn’t mind the dry shade conditions found beneath mature trees. It spreads at a moderate pace, filling in bare areas without becoming overly aggressive in North Carolina gardens.
My sister planted some beneath her ancient maple tree where the ground was completely bare. Within two seasons, it transformed the area into a charming woodland garden that requires almost no maintenance beyond occasional trimming.
10. Coral Bells (Heuchera americana)
Remarkable for its colorful foliage that ranges from purple to caramel to silver, this native perennial brings year-round interest to tree bases. Small bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems above the leaves, attracting hummingbirds and adding vertical interest to the landscape.
The shallow root system doesn’t compete with trees, making coral bells ideal for planting in those difficult spots. Modern varieties have been bred specifically for heat tolerance, making them well-suited to North Carolina’s climate.
After struggling to find plants for beneath our Bradford pear, I discovered coral bells. The ‘Palace Purple’ variety has thrived there for three years now, maintaining its rich color even during our hot summers.
11. Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Masses of purple, pink, or white flowers create a stunning spring display in woodland settings. Unlike its sun-loving cousin, this woodland phlox thrives in the partial shade beneath deciduous trees, making it perfect for North Carolina’s many wooded properties.
Semi-evergreen foliage forms a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds. The creeping stems root as they spread, helping stabilize soil on slopes and prevent erosion around tree roots.
On a garden tour in Chapel Hill last year, I was impressed by how effectively creeping phlox was used to connect different garden areas beneath a canopy of oak trees. The early spring bloom provided weeks of color before the trees fully leafed out.
12. Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
Soft, hair-like foliage creates a grass-like texture without the maintenance requirements of actual turf. This native sedge forms a lush carpet that can handle the dry shade conditions beneath trees where regular lawn grass struggles or fails completely.
Growing only about 8 inches tall, Pennsylvania sedge never needs mowing. The fine-textured leaves move gracefully in the slightest breeze, adding a dynamic element to the landscape.
A friend in Raleigh replaced the failing fescue beneath his oak trees with this sedge three years ago. It’s now a beautiful, natural-looking ground cover that requires no fertilizer, minimal watering, and stays green nearly year-round in our climate.
13. Epimedium (Epimedium x rubrum)
Often called ‘bishop’s hat’ for its uniquely shaped flowers, this tough perennial handles the toughest conditions beneath trees. The heart-shaped leaves emerge with a bronze tint in spring, maturing to green, then developing beautiful red edges in fall.
Delicate-looking but incredibly resilient, epimedium’s wiry rhizomes can penetrate even compacted soil. This makes it one of the few plants that can truly compete with established tree roots for water and nutrients.
After trying countless plants beneath our water-hogging maple, epimedium finally gave me success. Five years later, it’s formed a beautiful colony that requires almost no care and looks attractive from spring through fall in our North Carolina garden.
14. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Graceful arching leaves create a fountain-like effect that softens hard edges around tree trunks and roots. Though not a true grass, this Asian native forms grass-like tufts that spread slowly to create a dense, weed-suppressing mat even in difficult growing conditions.
The deep green color persists year-round in most parts of North Carolina. Small purple flowers appear in summer, followed by blue-black berries that add visual interest and attract birds.
During the severe drought two summers ago, the mondo grass beneath our front yard oak remained green without supplemental watering. That level of drought tolerance makes it especially valuable for low-maintenance landscapes in our increasingly hot climate.
15. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Glossy, often purple-tinged foliage creates a striking contrast against tree bark and mulch. In spring, spikes of blue flowers rise above the leaves, attracting pollinators and adding vertical interest to this otherwise low-growing plant.
Fast-spreading runners quickly fill in bare areas, making ajuga one of the most efficient ground covers for problem spots. The dense growth habit effectively suppresses weeds while allowing tree roots to breathe.
My neighbor’s yard features ajuga beneath a large pecan tree where nothing else would grow due to the allelopathic properties of the tree. The ‘Chocolate Chip’ variety has performed particularly well there, maintaining its rich color despite the challenging conditions.
16. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Aromatic foliage releases its distinctive scent whenever you brush against it, making this ground cover a sensory delight. Tiny pink or purple flowers appear in early summer, creating a carpet of color that attracts beneficial insects to your garden.
Though typically recommended for sunny spots, creeping thyme performs surprisingly well in the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees. The woody stems can handle foot traffic, making it ideal for areas around tree roots where people occasionally walk.
After seeing it thrive at a friend’s place in Charlotte, I planted some beneath our front yard dogwood. It’s been a perfect solution for that difficult transition area between full sun and deep shade.
17. Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
Silver-splashed foliage brightens up dark corners beneath trees, creating year-round interest even when the plant isn’t flowering. Pink, purple, or white blooms appear in spring and often continue sporadically through summer, attracting bees and other pollinators.
Adaptable to various soil conditions, lamium spreads quickly to form a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds. The shallow root system doesn’t compete with trees, making it ideal for planting directly over exposed roots.
During a particularly hot July last year, the lamium beneath our backyard hickory remained lush while other plants struggled. Its heat tolerance makes it especially valuable for North Carolina gardens where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90 degrees.
18. Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Elegant nodding flowers appear in late winter when the garden has little else blooming, creating months of interest beneath deciduous trees. The leathery, evergreen foliage forms clumps that gradually expand over time, maintaining their attractive appearance year-round.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, Lenten roses handle the challenging conditions beneath mature trees with remarkable resilience. They’re particularly well-suited to North Carolina’s climate, as they appreciate our mild winters and can handle summer heat.
The hellebores I planted beneath our old oak five years ago have now self-seeded into a beautiful colony that provides winter color when nothing else is blooming. Their deer resistance is an added bonus in our suburban neighborhood.