If you have a backyard full of pine trees and want to add some ground-level foliage, it might get you wondering—will ferns grow under pine trees?
Yes, ferns will grow under pine trees. In fact, they’re one of the only plants that can survive a pine tree’s challenging soil requirements.
We’ll explore why ferns can grow under pine trees and other species you can also consider planting beneath them.
Why Ferns Can Grow Under Pine Trees
Pine trees make it tough for many plants to survive. That’s because they choose acidic environments and sometimes grow shallow roots, making it challenging for other plants to form a base.
While it’s a common belief among gardeners that pine trees physically change the soil composition to make it suitable for their growth and reproduction, the University of New Hampshire states that this is false.
Instead, pine trees actively seek an acidic soil environment with a pH of around 5.5. Luckily, ferns can tolerate acidic soil, so it’s common to encounter them growing beneath pine trees.
Furthermore, pine trees grow a dense canopy layer that blocks most sunlight. Since ferns thrive in areas with little sun, this doesn’t deter them from growing beneath pine trees.
Planting Ferns Under Pine Trees
Lady ferns are among the most common type of fern that grows under pine trees in North America. They naturally seek out woodland regions, areas with little sunlight, high humidity, and acidic soil.
As long as you live in USDA zones four to nine, you can plant lady ferns beneath your pine trees.
Many people have lady ferns growing in their homes, so it’s easy to work with a full-grown plant and transplant them beneath pine trees.
It’s crucial to ensure the pine trees you plant your ferns beneath have enough foliage to keep most sunlight away, although dappled sunlight is okay.
The soil also needs to be well-draining. Although lady ferns thrive in moist soil, they’ll develop root rot if there’s too much standing water. If the area around your pine trees often pools with water after a rain shower, we recommend amending the soil with poultry grit in the areas where you’ll be planting your ferns.
There are two types of lady ferns—Southern Ladies and Northern Ladies. These ferns have different heat tolerances, so plant Northern lady ferns if you live in cooler climates and Southern lady ferns if you live in warmer areas.
Characteristics of Lady Ferns
Lady ferns grow up to six feet tall and never produce flowers. Their medium-green leaves form an almost pine tree-like shape on each stalk, which hang down from a primary base.
Traditionally, indigenous groups used the lady fern’s leaves as mats to dry berries under the sun. They would also eat the leaves in a boiled, baked, or raw form.
So, you can even grow lady ferns beneath pine trees to spruce up your salad if you’re looking to get adventurous in the kitchen.
Other Plants That Grow Under Pine Trees
Now that you know the answer to “Will ferns grow under pine trees?” is yes, below are some other plant species you can plant beneath these trees.
- Dwarf Crested Iris
- Persian Violet
- Grape Hyacinth
- Daffodils
- White Trillium
As you’ve likely gathered, many of these plant species produce flowers. Therefore, they’re an excellent choice if you want to incorporate more color beneath your pine trees.
That said, the quality of the blooms varies according to the species and how much canopy coverage there is. Unlike ferns, which can grow without practically any sunlight, some of the plants above require access to dappled or partial shade to thrive.
The Bottom Line
Ferns like the lady fern are evergreen and are among the best plants to grow under pine trees. Like pine trees, these ferns thrive in acidic, moist soil. Unlike pines, they don’t require much sunlight for photosynthesis and can grow well beneath these trees’ canopy.