Flowers to Plant Around Tree Bases

Spring Bulbs

• Daffodils, tulips and grape hyacinths are a nice start to the spring season when they grow and bloom around the bases of trees. Dig a small singular hole for each spring bulb when planting them under a tree. Colorful crocus plants will start the spring blooming season as soon as they grow up out of the ground or through the snow cover. Early bloom snowdrops that are followed by lily-of-the-valley adds the beauty of small white flowers to a tree border.

Perennials

• Sun-loving perennials that can be planted with young trees include the ox-eye daisy and snow in summer flowering plants. The white flowers mix well with colored summer annuals for a pleasing border. The pale blue or lavender vinca minor, also known as periwinkle, will encircle a young or mature tree with a mound of greenery and small blooms. The airy, bell-shaped pink blossoms of Mocha Mint coral bells rise above equally colorful silver leaves emphasized with dark green veining.

Annuals

• A tray or two of New Guinea impatiens transplants do well under the shade of a mature tree. The glossy pointed leaves and bright-colored blossoms are an attractive border around the base of trees. Mounds of white, lavender or purple sweet alyssum offer clusters of tiny florets in easy care, inexpensive seedlings to be planted alone or mixed with other flowering annuals. A marigold, zinnia, portulaca, snapdragon and nasturtium will give a colorful display in varying heights up to 3 feet tall against the tree bases. Hardy geraniums mixed with blue lobelia seedlings encircle a tree with pink, red, white and blue color.

Considerations

• Flowers with shallow root systems are the best to grow around tree bases. Their needs are minimal so they don't compete with the trees for nutritional needs. Plants that die back each year will not crowd out the root system. Flowering vines, woody shrubs and bamboo will deplete the nutrients in the soil around the trees. The larger plants, holes and root systems could cause damage to a tree by crowding its roots and using moisture. Mulch will help maintain moisture for both the flowering plants and the trees.