Hostas (Hosta spp.) are cold-hardy, shade-loving perennials that grow in shade gardens across U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, depending on the species and cultivar. To grow hostas under pine trees (Pinus spp., zones 2-9, depending on species), you must pay careful attention to the planting and growing conditions. Still, with care and patience, you can successfully fill the shade under your pine tree with lush yellow-green to blue-green solid or variegated leaves for a bright splash of color and texture.
Can You Successfully Grow Lush Hostas Under Pine Trees?
Hostas are popular shade-loving perennials prized for their large, colorful leaves that form mounding basal rosettes. Their versatility and low-maintenance nature make them a go-to plant for many gardeners. But can hostas perform well when grown under pine trees?
While pine trees present some challenges for growing plants underneath them, hostas can thrive in this environment if their needs are met. Here’s what you need to know about successfully growing hostas under pine trees.
The Challenges of Growing Under Pine Trees
Pine trees create a unique set of growing conditions that can be hard for some plants to tolerate. Here are some of the key challenges:
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Dry soil – Pine trees intercept rainfall with their dense canopy Their needles also absorb moisture This leads to dry soil conditions.
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Acidic soil – As pine needles decompose, they lower the soil pH. This creates acidic soil conditions with a pH around 5.5.
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Poor nutrient levels – Pine trees absorb nutrients, leaving less available for understory plants. Their fallen needles also tie up nitrogen as they decompose.
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Shallow roots – Pine trees have extensive surface roots that make it hard to dig planting holes.
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Shade – Pine trees cast dense shade, blocking a lot of sunlight from reaching understory plants.
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Pine needles – Falling pine needles can smother low-growing plants if allowed to accumulate.
How to Grow Hostas Successfully Under Pines
While hostas prefer consistently moist, fertile soil and good sunlight, they can adapt to grow under pines if their needs are met. Follow these tips:
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Amend soil – Dig in 2-3 inches of compost when planting hostas under pines. This improves moisture retention and nutrient levels in the soil.
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Mulch well – Apply 2-3 inches of mulch like pine needles around hostas. This helps retain soil moisture and reduce weed competition.
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Water frequently – Hostas need consistent moisture. Water them regularly, especially during hot and dry periods.
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Use drip irrigation – Run a drip line or soaker hose on a timer to provide frequent moisture. This is better than occasional deep waterings.
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Choose the right varieties – Select hosta varieties suited to part shade instead of full sun. Go for ones with textured or blue-green leaves that tolerate lower light.
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Fertilize regularly – Use a balanced organic fertilizer or a nitrogen-rich fertilizer monthly during the growing season to provide nutrients.
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Control pine needles – Clear accumulated pine needles around hostas so they get the light they need.
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Plant in gaps – Look for planting spots between pine tree roots where you can dig an adequate hole.
Choosing the Best Hosta Varieties for Under Pine Trees
While all hostas need decent soil moisture and fertility to thrive, some varieties are better suited to growing in the part shade and acidic conditions under pines. Here are some top hosta picks:
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Gold Standard – Large gold leaves brighten shady areas. Tolerates dryness.
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Guacamole – Chartreuse leaves with good slug resistance. Handles part shade.
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Blue Angel – Very large blue-green leaves on a 5-foot wide plant. Tolerates shade.
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Frances Williams – Variegated green and white leaves. Slug resistant.
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Regal Splendor – Thick blue-green leaves with good substance. More sun tolerant.
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First Frost – Blue-green leaves edged in creamy white. Handles part shade.
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August Moon – Round yellow leaves brighten deep shade. Good substance.
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Stained Glass – Yellow leaves with green edges. Nice for brightening shade.
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Night Before Christmas – White centered leaves with thin dark green edges.
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Autumn Frost – Yellow leaves with irregular blue-green margins.
The Most Important Things to Remember
Hostas can grow surprisingly well under pine trees as long as you choose the right varieties and give them the conditions they need. Focus on:
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Improving soil moisture, fertility and drainage before planting
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Selecting hostas suited to part shade and acidic soil
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Maintaining consistent soil moisture through watering, mulching and drip irrigation
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Controlling pine needle accumulation so hostas get adequate light
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Fertilizing regularly to provide nutrients
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Planting hostas in gaps between pine tree roots
A little extra care allows you to enjoy the beautiful foliage of hostas blended with the vertical interest of pine trees for a lush, natural woodland look. With the right varieties and care techniques, hostas can thrive under challenging pine trees.
Hosta Species and Cultivars
With more than 40 species and over 2,000 named cultivars, theres a hosta for every shady garden, from partial to dappled to full shade under pines, conifers and deciduous shade trees. Generally, hostas enjoy two or three hours of morning sun, which brings out the leaf colors, and then light or dappled shade for the rest of the day.
Hosta plantaginea is regarded as the most sun-tolerant hosta species, thriving in full to partial sun in many areas, although there are also many sun-tolerant hybrid cultivars available. The foliage and fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers of hostas wont disappoint. Flower colors range from white to lavender to purplish and even purple-and-white striped blooms. Some large hosta clumps can reach sizes exceeding 6 feet in diameter.
Many of the miniature or dwarf hostas have been hybridized from Hosta gracillima. This native of Japan grows in 5-inch-tall by 12-inch-wide clumps of dark-green leaves with pale undersides. The lavender-blue and purple striped flowers are funnel shaped. It prefers partial to full shade but can tolerate a little sun.
Issues When Planting Under Pines
When grown under pine trees, any ground cover may struggle. Pine trees have shallow, vigorous root systems that compete with the hostas for water and nutrients. In addition, the pine tree canopy blocks rain and sunshine. Usually, when planting a ground cover, you amend and cultivate the soil, but when planting under trees, caution is required to avoid damaging the roots. More Like This
Pine trees, while evergreen, also drop a lot of needles. A heavy layer of pine needles can smother anything planted under the tree. A common misconception is that pine needles make soil acidic. However, research has shown that as the needles decompose, their pH drops into the neutral range, making them suitable for use as mulch.
10 Plants That Thrive Under Pine Trees
FAQ
Will hostas grow around pine trees?
Try growing shade tolerant groundcovers under the tree. Spotted deadnettle (Lamium), moneywort (Lysmachia), hosta, wild ginger, ferns, yellow corydalis (can be a bit weedy in milder climates), and astilbe are a few plants that will tolerate these conditions. Leave the pine needles, they make a great mulch.
Do hostas like pine needles?
Yes, hostas generally like pine needles as mulch. Pine needles are a good mulch option for hostas as they help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and decompose over time, adding nutrients to the soil.
What are the best plants to grow under pine trees?
Expert Response Plants for dry shade typically do well under pine trees. These include plants such as heuchera, sedge, jacob’s ladder, hosta, and wild geranium. Because you will be planting around exposed roots, use the smallest plants you can find so that you do not disturb the tree roots while digging.
Where should you not plant hostas?
Hostas prefer shaded areas but can tolerate morning sunlight. Avoid planting them in spots that receive intense afternoon sun, as this can scorch the hosta leaves. Ideal locations are under the canopy of trees or alongside shade gardens populated with native shrubs and berry bushes.
Can you plant hostas under a tree?
Keep the mulch away from the stems, maintaining at least an inch gap between the mulch and the base of the hosta stems. While the cool shade provided by trees initially appears perfect for shade-loving plants, gardeners often ponder whether it’s suitable to plant hostas beneath these trees.
Can a hosta grow in a pine tree?
Hostas’ two essential requirements are their need to be kept out of the midday sun, and their soil needs to be well-drained and organically rich. If the soil is prepared with enough organic matter before planting, Hostas can thrive in the shade of pine trees. To answer the question, can hostas and pine trees coexist? The answer is; absolutely.
Can you grow Hosta Sagae from a pine tree?
If there is a dense network of roots from several pines or other surrounding trees then it may be very difficult to grow the larger varieties of hosta such as Hosta ‘Sagae’ which can grow to 70 inches across and you will have to plant smaller varieties instead such as ‘Gold Edger’.
Can you plant hostas with a Pinus genus?
A limiting factor in planting hostas with the genus Pinus is finding space in the shallow network of roots. If there is a dense network of roots from several pines or other surrounding trees, growing the larger hosta varieties may be difficult, and you will have to plant smaller varieties instead.
What happens if you plant hostas under a pine tree?
If you plant hostas under a pine tree, they will not get enough sunlight and will eventually die. Hostas need well-drained soil, while pine trees can tolerate poorly drained soil. If you plant hostas in soil that is too wet, they will develop root rot and die. Hostas are susceptible to pests and diseases, while pine trees are not.
How do you plant hostas under a pine tree?
To plant hostas under a pine tree, follow these steps: 1. Choose a location that is partially shaded by the pine tree. 2. Dig a hole that is twice the width and depth of the hosta’s root ball. 3. Add a handful of compost to the bottom of the hole. 4. Gently remove the hosta from its pot and place it in the hole. 5.