| I heard that Italian Cypresses produce an oil that inhibits the growth of |
| Although some plants (walnut trees and sunflowers for example) exude chemicals to suppress the growth of plants in the vicinity of their roots, I can find no reference to Italian cypresses having this quality. The major challenge in planting beneath an established evergreen such as Italian cypress is that the soil beneath them are typically dry and the site is shady. The roots of established trees will compete with other plants for moisture and nutrients and the tree usually wins the competition. So, to successfully garden beneath your Italian Cypress, you'll need to use only plants that will adapt to dry shade. There is an extensive list compiled by the Berkeley Horticultural Nursery which I have included here: Before planting in dry shade, try to improve your soil's water-holding capacity by adding organic matter such as compost, leaf mold, manure, coconut coir, etc. Don't expect to achieve fantastic lushness; most of the plants will tolerate, not necessarily thrive, in dry shade and will probably flower and fruit more sparingly. Bulbs: Amaryllis belladonna Convallaria majalis Cyclamen hederifolium Freesia Iris japonica Lapeirousia Narcissus Scilla Ferns: Dryopteris Polypodium Polystichum munitum Groundcovers: Aegopodium podograria Bergenia crassifolia Cerastium tomentosum Erigeron karvinskianus Hedera helix Hypericum calycinum Pachysandra terminalis Rubus calycinoides Stachys byzantina Vinca major Vinca minor Viola labradorica Viola odorata Perennials: Aeonium Agapanthus orientalis Aloe Alstroemeria ligtu A. pulchella A. aurantiaca Anaphalis Anemone x hybrida Arum italicum Aspidistra elatior Campanula latifolia Campanula primulifolia Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Chrysanthemum ptarmicifolium Corydalis lutea Dierama Dietes vegeta Digitalis purpurea Epimedium Eucomis Euphorbia cyparissias E. robbiae E. epithymoides E. perralderianum E. pinnatum colchicum E. x warleyense Festuca ovina glauca Francoa ramosa F. sonchifolia Galium odoratum Gasteria Geranium macrorrhizum G. palmatum Helichrysum petiolatum H. 'Limelight' Helleborus argutifolius H. foetidus H. orientalis Hemerocallis Heuchera maxima Iris foetidissima Kniphofia Libertia formosa Limonium perezii Liriope spicata Mimulus (Diplacus) hybrids Modiolastrum lateritum Origanum dictamnus Oxalis oregana Polygonatum commutatum Polygonum capitatum Sedum spathulifolium Sedum spectabile Sedum spurium Tiarella Tolmeia menziesii Tulbaghia violacea Vancouveria hexandra Vancouveria planipetala Zauschneria californica Shrubs: Abutilon megapotamicum A. hybridum Amelanchier alnifolia Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' Arctostaphylos nummularia Aucuba japonica Berberis darwinii Berberis thunbergii Budddleia davidii Buxus Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Cercis occidentalis Chaenomeles Correa 'Dusky Bells' Correa reflexa Corylus Cotinus coggygria Cotoneaster Daphne odora Dendromecon harfordii Elaeagnus Escallonia Euonymus fortunei Forsythia x intermedia Garrya elliptica Hibbertia cuneiformis Hibbertia dentata Ilex aquifolium Ilex cornuta Ilex vomitoria Iochroma cyaneum Kerria japonica Ligustrum japonicum Ligustrum ovalifolium Mahonia aquifolium Mahonia pinnata Myrica californica Myrtus communis Nandina domestica Olearia insignis Philadelphus virginalis Phyllostachys aurea Protea cynaroides Prunus ilicifolia Rhamnus alaternus Rhaphiolepis indica Ribes viburnifolium Ruscus aculeatus Ruscus hypoglossum Sarcococca ruscifolia Symphoricarpus albus laevigatus Symphoricarpus orbiculatus Vaccinium ovatum Xylosma congestum With all of these choices, I know your garden will be lovely. Enjoy! |
