Shrubby plants that grow well under cedar trees are species adapted to shade, dry soil, and strong root competition. Cedar trees often create dense canopies that limit sunlight and absorb much of the available moisture from the soil. Successful shrubs in these areas are usually hardy, shade-tolerant plants that can grow with limited water and nutrients.
The soil beneath cedar trees is often slightly acidic and covered with fallen needles or scale-like leaves. This natural mulch can slow the growth of some plants but benefits shrubs that are adapted to woodland environments. These shrubs are able to grow in filtered light and make use of the organic matter created as cedar debris decomposes.
Shrubs that thrive under cedar trees typically have shallow or adaptable root systems that allow them to establish between existing tree roots. Many are also drought-tolerant once established, since cedar trees reduce soil moisture levels. Plants with moderate growth rates tend to adjust more easily to these challenging conditions.
Proper planting techniques improve success when landscaping beneath cedar trees. Digging carefully to avoid damaging large roots, enriching the soil with compost, and watering regularly during the establishment period help young shrubs develop strong roots. Applying mulch helps conserve moisture and reduce stress from dry conditions.
Plants That Grow Well Under Cedar Trees
Native Ferns (Dryopteris species)
Native wood ferns, particularly Dryopteris marginalis and Dryopteris intermedia, thrive in the deep shade and dry acidic conditions under cedar trees. These tough, semi-evergreen to evergreen ferns develop graceful, arching fronds that create attractive groundcover beneath cedar canopies.
Wood ferns naturally colonize cedar understories in eastern forests and demonstrate exceptional tolerance of cedar’s allelopathic compounds and dense shade.
Yew (Taxus species)
Yew shrubs demonstrate exceptional tolerance of cedar understory conditions including deep shade, dry soil, and allelopathic compounds from cedar litter. These dense evergreen shrubs produce dark green, flat needles and bright red berries on female plants while tolerating the challenging conditions under cedar canopies.
Both Japanese yew and English yew cultivars adapt well to cedar shade, and the dense, evergreen foliage provides screening even in challenging cedar understory conditions.
Native Spicebush
Spicebush demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and grows naturally in woodland settings where cedars are common. These aromatic native shrubs produce tiny yellow flowers in early spring before cedar canopies fully shade the understory, bright red berries in fall, and golden yellow fall color.
Spicebush’s native woodland adaptation allows it to tolerate cedar’s allelopathic compounds while providing important ecological functions as a host plant for Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies.
Creeping Juniper
Creeping juniper is closely related to cedar and demonstrates exceptional tolerance of the allelopathic compounds and dry, shaded conditions under cedar trees. These low-growing evergreen shrubs spread along the ground with blue-green foliage that provides attractive groundcover in challenging cedar understory situations.
The chemical similarity between junipers and cedars means creeping juniper has evolved specific tolerance of cedar-related allelopathic compounds, and the drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, and natural adaptation to conditions similar to cedar woodland environments.
Wild Ginger
Wild ginger thrives in the moist to moderately dry, shaded conditions under cedar trees and creates attractive dense groundcover with its large, heart-shaped leaves. These native woodland perennials develop spreading colonies through underground rhizomes and tolerate the allelopathic compounds and dense shade characteristic of cedar understory environments.
Wild ginger’s native woodland adaptation and preference for shaded, cool conditions makes it suitable for cedar understory planting.
Mahonia (Oregon Grape)
Mahonia species including Oregon grape and leatherleaf mahonia demonstrate good tolerance of cedar understory conditions, tolerating deep shade and dry soil. These distinctive evergreen shrubs produce holly-like compound leaves, fragrant yellow flowers in winter or early spring, and blue-purple berries resembling grapes.
Mahonia’s tolerance of deep shade and dry conditions matches the challenging environment under cedar trees, and the year-round evergreen interest, winter flowers, and ornamental berries make mahonia a distinctive and valuable choice for challenging cedar understory situations in appropriate climate zones.
Native Wild Azalea
Native azalea species demonstrate reasonable tolerance of cedar understory conditions, particularly along the edges of cedar stands where more light penetrates. These deciduous shrubs produce spectacular fragrant flowers in spring and tolerate the acidic conditions found under certain cedar species like Atlantic white cedar.
Native azaleas including swamp azalea and pinxterbloom perform best on the periphery of cedar groves where light availability improves, and the spectacular spring flowers, fragrant blooms, and native adaptation to acidic woodland conditions make them worthwhile choices for cedar edge planting.
Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
Coral berry is a native shrub demonstrating excellent tolerance of cedar understory conditions including deep shade, dry soil, and allelopathic compounds. These low-growing shrubs reach 3-5 feet tall and produce small pink flowers followed by persistent coral-red berries that provide winter interest and wildlife food.
Coral berry’s natural occurrence in woodland understories where cedars are common demonstrates its tolerance of cedar growing conditions, and the persistent winter berries, tolerance of deep dry shade, and native woodland adaptation make coral berry one of the most reliable shrubs for cedar understory planting.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Snowberry is closely related to coral berry and similarly demonstrates excellent tolerance of cedar understory conditions including deep shade and dry, challenging soil. These native shrubs produce small pink flowers followed by attractive white berries that persist through winter and provide wildlife food.
Snowberry’s tolerance of deep shade and dry conditions matches the environment under cedar trees, and the ornamental white berries, native woodland adaptation, and tolerance of the allelopathic compounds present in cedar litter make snowberry a reliable and attractive choice for cedar understory planting.
Wild Columbine
Wild columbine, while technically a perennial, develops woody bases that give it shrub-like characteristics in favorable understory conditions. These native plants produce distinctive red and yellow spurred flowers in spring that attract hummingbirds and butterflies while tolerating the challenging conditions under cedar trees.
Wild columbine naturally colonizes rocky woodland areas where cedars are common and demonstrates tolerance of cedar’s allelopathic compounds. The hummingbird-attracting flowers, native adaptation, and tolerance of dry cedar understory conditions make wild columbine rewarding despite its challenging growing environment.
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
Native dwarf bush honeysuckle demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and provides ornamental interest through tubular flowers and berries. These compact native shrubs reach 2-4 feet tall and produce yellow to orange flowers in summer followed by red berries while tolerating the dry shade under cedar canopies.
Dwarf bush honeysuckle’s non-invasive nature unlike exotic honeysuckle species and its tolerance of dry, shaded woodland conditions makes it appropriate for cedar understory planting, and the ornamental flowers and berries add seasonal interest in challenging situations.
Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Wild hydrangea demonstrates surprising tolerance of cedar understory conditions, adapting to the dry shade and allelopathic compounds when planted in favorable microsites. These native shrubs produce large white flower clusters in summer and tolerate the challenging conditions under cedar canopies better than most non-native alternatives.
Wild hydrangea’s natural woodland habitat includes settings where cedars are present, and the spectacular summer flowers, native woodland adaptation, and reasonable tolerance of dry cedar shade make wild hydrangea a rewarding choice for cedar understory planting in appropriate microsites.
Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
American hazelnut demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and grows naturally in woodland settings where cedars are common. These productive shrubs reach 8-12 feet tall and produce edible hazelnuts, early spring catkins, and attractive fall color while tolerating the shade and allelopathic compounds under cedar canopies.
American hazelnut’s native woodland edge habitat overlaps with cedar woodland settings, and the edible nuts, wildlife value, early spring catkins, and tolerance of cedar understory conditions make hazelnut one of the most rewarding productive shrubs for cedar understory planting.
Red Osier Dogwood
Red osier dogwood demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and provides exceptional year-round interest through its brilliant red winter stems. These native shrubs tolerate the shade, dry conditions, and allelopathic compounds found under cedar trees while providing white spring flowers, white summer berries, and fall color.
Red osier dogwood’s adaptability to challenging woodland conditions and natural occurrence alongside cedars in various habitats makes it suitable for cedar understory planting, and the brilliant winter stem color provides outstanding seasonal interest in challenging cedar shade.
Ninebark
Ninebark demonstrates reasonable tolerance of cedar understory conditions and adapts to the dry, shaded environment beneath cedar canopies. These native shrubs produce attractive exfoliating bark, white or pink spring flowers, and foliage in burgundy, gold, or green depending on cultivar while tolerating challenging cedar conditions.
Ninebark’s native woodland edge habitat and adaptability to dry, shaded conditions makes it suitable for cedar understory situations, and the colorful foliage options, interesting bark, and spring flowers provide multi-season ornamental interest in challenging cedar understory environments.
Russet Buffaloberry
Russet buffaloberry demonstrates exceptional tolerance of cedar understory conditions in western regions where it naturally grows alongside various cedar and juniper species. These nitrogen-fixing shrubs reach 6-15 feet tall and produce tart orange to red berries while tolerating the dry, challenging conditions under western cedar species.
Buffaloberry’s natural co-occurrence with western cedar and juniper species demonstrates proven tolerance of cedar-related growing conditions, and the nitrogen-fixing ability to improve soil quality, wildlife value, and natural cedar woodland adaptation make it particularly valuable.
Fragrant Sumac
Fragrant sumac demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and naturally grows in rocky woodland settings where cedars are common. These spreading shrubs reach 4-6 feet tall with aromatic foliage, small yellow spring flowers, and brilliant orange-red fall color while tolerating the dry, challenging conditions under cedar canopies.
Fragrant sumac’s natural occurrence in rocky, dry woodland settings with cedars demonstrates its tolerance of cedar growing conditions, and the aromatic leaves, fall color, and adaptability to dry cedar understory conditions make fragrant sumac useful for naturalizing beneath cedar trees.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild bergamot, while primarily a perennial, develops woody bases in favorable conditions giving it shrub-like characteristics in cedar understory planting. These aromatic native plants produce lavender-pink flower heads that attract pollinators while tolerating the dry, challenging conditions under cedar trees.
Wild bergamot’s natural occurrence in woodland openings and edges where cedars are present demonstrates its tolerance of cedar-adjacent conditions, and the aromatic foliage, pollinator-attracting flowers, and adaptability to dry conditions make it a rewarding native plant for cedar understory situations.
Elderberry
Elderberry demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions when planted in favorable microsites with adequate moisture. These vigorous native shrubs produce white flower clusters and dark purple berries while adapting to the partial shade and challenging conditions under cedar canopies.
Elderberry’s deep roots allow it to access moisture and nutrients below the zone of densest cedar root competition, and the edible berries, wildlife value, and adaptability to woodland conditions near cedars make elderberry a productive functional shrub for suitable cedar understory microsites.
Virginia Creeper
Virginia creeper, while technically a vine, grows in a shrubby manner when unsupported and demonstrates exceptional tolerance of cedar understory conditions. These vigorous native plants produce attractive compound leaves with brilliant red fall color even in the deep shade under cedar canopies.
Virginia creeper naturally colonizes cedar woodland understories and demonstrates exceptional tolerance of cedar’s allelopathic compounds and dry shade. The spectacular fall color, native cedar woodland association, and tolerance of the most challenging cedar understory conditions make virginia creeper one of the most reliable plants for difficult cedar situations.
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Bearberry is a low-growing native shrub specifically adapted to dry, acidic, sandy woodland conditions similar to those found under cedar trees. These creeping evergreen shrubs produce white to pink urn-shaped flowers, bright red berries, and attractive glossy foliage while tolerating the dry, acidic conditions characteristic of cedar understories.
Bearberry’s specific adaptation to dry, acidic woodland conditions makes it particularly appropriate for cedar understory planting, and the evergreen foliage, ornamental berries, and tolerance of challenging dry cedar conditions make bearberry a reliable groundcover shrub.
Native Witch Hazel
Witch hazel demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions and provides unique ornamental interest with its fall or winter flowers. These large native shrubs produce fragrant yellow or orange strap-petaled flowers after cedar canopies are most shading, and the fall flowering season creates interest during the dormant season.
Witch hazel’s native woodland adaptation and tolerance of various challenging conditions including dry shade makes it suitable for cedar understory planting, and the unusual late-season flowers, fall color, and tolerance of cedar woodland conditions make witch hazel a rewarding choice.
Heather and Heath (Calluna and Erica)
Heather and heath species thrive in the dry, acidic conditions created by cedar litter, particularly under species like Atlantic white cedar that create strongly acidic conditions. These low-growing evergreen shrubs produce masses of tiny flowers in pink, purple, red, or white and create attractive groundcover in challenging cedar understory situations.
Heather and heath’s requirement for acidic, well-drained soil matches the conditions under certain cedar species, and the year-round evergreen foliage, seasonal flowers, and tolerance of dry acidic conditions make these plants valuable for appropriate cedar understory situations.
Dwarf Pawpaw
Pawpaw demonstrates good tolerance of cedar understory conditions in appropriate regions and grows as a shade-tolerant understory shrub capable of competing with cedar’s challenging environment. These native plants produce tropical-tasting fruits and are specifically adapted to growing under large canopy trees, having evolved strategies to maximize light capture in challenging shaded conditions.
Pawpaw’s shade tolerance and native woodland adaptation make it suitable for cedar understory planting in appropriate climate zones, and the unique edible fruits and attractive form make pawpaw a particularly rewarding choice for suitable cedar understory situations.