Understory planting beneath a young canopy at our Northshore Biotech Campus project
Chelsea Ruiz at North Creek Nurseries recently shared a thoughtful piece on a familiar landscape design challenge: what to plant beneath young trees while waiting for the canopy to fill in. In The Waiting Canopy, she outlines a few practical strategies for making the most of this transitional period in understory planting.
One approach is to think in phases. Start with sun-loving perennials like Coreopsis verticillata, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, and Rudbeckia fulgida that establish quickly and provide structure, color, and ecological benefits early on. As shade increases, those can be replaced with shade-tolerant species – think Carex pensylvanica, Packera aurea, or Polygonatum biflorum.
For a longer-term or lower-maintenance solution, Ruiz suggests planting species that tolerate a wide range of light conditions. Plants like Heuchera villosa and Geranium maculatum adapt well as a young tree’s canopy matures, making them a good fit for evolving shade garden conditions.
It’s a quick and useful read for anyone planning or maintaining a landscape with young trees. Early-stage tree plantings don’t have to feel sparse or temporary. With the right plant choices, these spaces can offer year-round interest, habitat, and long-term resilience.
Read the full article here: The Waiting Canopy – North Creek Nurseries