Plants To Plant Under A Gum Tree

Gum trees (Eucalyptus spp.) are prized for their aromatic foliage, drought tolerance and the shade they create in the yard. But that shade — along with gums' tendency to soak up most of the moisture and nutrients in the soil and create dense leaf litter on the ground — also makes choosing appropriate plants for understory planting a challenge. For the best results, choose shade-tolerant plants with shallow roots that thrive in occasionally dry sites.

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Annuals add bright color during the growing season. Shallow-rooted choices include petunias (Petunia x hybrida), which grow in a range of colors — from white and pink to red and purple — and sizes, from 6 to 14 inches tall. Petunias flower from spring through summer and tolerate drought and partial shade. Verbena (Verbena x hybrida) blooms from late spring through autumn and grows from 6 to 12 inches tall. These drought-tolerant annuals come in blue, white, pink and red tones and grow in sun to partial shade exposures.

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Perennials grow for at least four seasons, some for much longer. Varieties for gum tree understory planting include the bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia). This 18-inch-tall perennial blooms in spring with deep pink flowers and has dark, lustrous leaves. It's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8 and prefers partial shade exposures. At the sunny edge of the gum understory, plant hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). Reaching heights of just 3 to 6 inches, this drought-tolerant perennial has succulent-like foliage and blooms with bright pink and purple flowers in summer. It's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9 and prefers dry, sandy soil.

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The bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri) grows well under gum trees. This evergreen shrub tolerates drought and partial shade and spreads rapidly to 6 feet wide and 2 feet tall. Its evergreen foliage contrasts with its white spring flowers and red berries. Bearberry cotoneasters are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7. For a taller shrub, plant a glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora). This semi-evergreen grows to 6 feet tall and is named for its shiny, dark foliage that turns red-bronze in winter. Hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, this shrub tolerates drought and grows in partially shaded sites.

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Groundcovers fill in empty spots under your gum tree. Choices include the shore juniper (Juniperus conferta), a fast-growing evergreen that forms a dense mat of foliage. Shore junipers grow in partial shade and dry soil. They're hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and reach heights of 10 inches. The "Blue Pacific" cultivar has blue-green foliage and spreads to 10 feet wide. Liriope (Liriope spicata) grows to 12 inches tall with a similar spread. This drought-tolerant groundcover has grass-like, evergreen foliage and grows in clumps. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and thrives in partial to full shade.