It certainly does look great Sherry! I agree, I don't like the idea of being told something is impossible, challenging perhaps but not impossible lol! You have proven that plants and gardeners can overcome less than ideal conditions. Your plants are not hanging on by a thread, they are thriving. Kudos to you! felisar (z5) Yes, the Geranium macrorrhizum, Epimedium and Asarum canadense are great performers under Maples. I grow them under an immense Acer saccharum (Sugar maple). I also grow Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal) under it. Great plant(s) known for being able to adapt to dry shade. Phlox stolonifera performs very well also. Vinca took a while to establish but now needs to be controlled just like the Ajuga. Many other plants grow there but with less success. I had Actaea rubra (native here) seed in and it is deliriously happy growing under the Maple.

I have a rooted cutting of Traviata under a large Oak about 10 feet from the trunk and about 3' inside the drip line. Oak roots are everywhere. The Traviata is about half the size of a sibling (also a rooted cutting) that is growing in near optimal conditions. They were both planted in 2003. The shaded one is about 6 x 2.5, very healthy (lots of dark green leaves, I spray for BS) and has blooms through out the season, but not as many as its sibling. The sibling is about 6 x 4 (but it gets more pruning). I have a rooted cutting of Queen Elizabeth (planted 2004) just inside the drip line and did well all summer, too. Lately, itÂs looking a little drought stressed, but thatÂs understandable since itÂs only rained here 3 times all summer. As a matter of fact theyÂre healthier than most annuals, perennials, and a Hydrangea planted nearby. I have a Karen Blixen between the two, that IÂm planning to SP in favor of Souvenir du Dr Jamain(sp?) that is supposed be more shade tolerant. I heard if you plant a very vigorous variety under a tree it will be a scaled-down version of itself. My grafted Traviata is turning into a monster (about 10x5, planted in 2002) with pruning, and my grafted QE is no slouch either. It is possible that the oak will take over eventually but IÂve enough results from these 2 to make it worth it. I think you have to experiment. Dennis

If coreopsis is blooming under the tree, it isn't completely shaded. You might try a low growing evergreen shrub, such as one of the hollies, or even ornamental grasses such as Penesetum alopecurides "Hameln" or "Little Bunny." The grasses will die on top, but the dried tops look lovely all winter with their fuzzy flowerheads and tan foliage. They reshoot in the spring.

My Historic home sports a 100 year old Gigantic Magnolia. I most certainly would deter from Rose's growing under MY MAGNOLIA because Magnola carry the worst EST kinds of diseases( but they never catch em,) I eat my rose petals in my Salad n I choose not to have ANY spill off from the Magnolia leaf spotted with filth. I'm planting Cinnamon ferns in a circle around my Magnolia ( that I foraged this week in the Golden Ilses of Georgia. I'll add some broken bricks for a nice circle effect.