Plants for Under a Monterey Cypress Tree

Shrubs

• Shrubs are a common site in the home garden. They provide texture, color and structure to a space, and are ideal for creating borders and screens. Select shade-friendly varieties when planting under a Monterey cypress. Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus) is a Florida native that thrives in zones 5 through 10. It produces red-purple flowers and dense, deep green leaves, making it ideal for privacy. Honeysuckle shrubs (Lonicera maackii), rhododendrons, azaleas, and members of the viburnum and boxwood families all thrive in shady conditions.

Annual Flowers

• Annual flowers are those that grow for only one season and die off. They are an ideal selection for gardeners who want and easy, often changing look for the yard. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are a shade-loving annual from the Balsam family. They are used to add color to gardens, flower beds, hanging baskets and window boxes. There are several species to choose from, with some as small as 9 inches and that grow as tall as 30 inches. They bloom from early summer into fall, and produce flowers in colors ranging from white and pink to shades of red and orange. Amethyst flower (Browallia speciosa), yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta) and the polka-dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are additional options.

Perennial Flowers

• Perennial flowers are those that return year after year. They have long life spans and are the choice of gardeners who want to spend years shaping their garden. Astilbe is a group of flowers with several hundred species. They thrive in zones 4 through 9, and will grow to be between 8 and 48 inches in height. Blooms open from summer to fall, and come in shades of white, red, pink and purple. Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is another full perennial, while the foxglove (Digitalis) is a short-lived perennial called a biennial. In zones 9 and 10 the caladium (Caladium bicolor) is a perennial that produces white-green spathes.

Grasses and Groundcover

• Grass and groundcover plants are an essential part of keeping a yard looking healthy. All grasses require some sunlight, so planting under a Monterey cypress requires some planning. Fine fescues, such as red fescue, are ideal for shady conditions in most areas. Most Kentucky bluegrass species will suffer in the shade, but a few cultivars will do well. Perennial ryegrass and tall fescue do well in areas with moderate sun exposure. Most shade-friendly grasses require heavier watering than other species. Among the shade-friendly groundcovers are the Lily turf (Liriope), which grows 8 to 12 inches tall and produces purple flower spikes in the late summer. Additionally, the dead nettle (Lamium maculatum) is a fast grower that reaches approximately 8 inches tall with variegated foliage. Low-growing options include the bugleweed (Ajuga), a fast growing, dense carpeting plant that is occasionally used to replace grass. Both brass buttons (Leptinella) and bronze Dutch clover (Trifolium repens) are both ideal for shady conditions.