This is a raised bed around a tree on a New York City street (see photo). This area gets plenty of sun especially in the afternoon. Would the tree roots allow anything to grow there? Would be great to add easy-care shrubs with color from either leaves and/or flowers to fill in the area around the tree. Sincerely appreciate your advice.

1) Which shrubs would you recommend for maximum color from leaves or flowers over the longest period of time every year? Hydrangea, Azalea, etc.?

2) Do you recommend adding soil to raise the soft soil level a bit and if so, would it be necessary to place a plastic 6-8 in. barrier ring around the base of the tree trunk to prevent rot there from raised soil?

The soil does look as if it could use some humus, but I don't think it will hurt the tree......there's a small....2&1/2-3' shrub called leptodermis that has purple flowers from late spring to frost...I love it, & it would do well in a spot like that.....

Hypericum (St. John's wort) would fill in nicely.

I would plant daylilies. Not shrubs but perennial and very tough.

Thank you RobinD, Bonehead and Newyourita. I will take a look at those. Since that tree will drop all its leaves in the fall, ideal for the base would be a plant or shrub, or a combination of a shrub and plants, that will offer some green or color all year, not just 3 seasons.

For that I'm guessing an evergreen shrub would be needed. And perhaps some perennial flowers or colorful seasonal shrub could be added like daylilies for a summer accent.

Newyorkrita, no doubt daylilies are tough, coming back year after year along countless roads after NY winters.

As @FrankMosher suggested in another thread, would Carpet Roses do well around the base of that tree (it gets a lot of sun throughout the day)? @FrankMosher said they bloom late June to freezing. Perhaps they could take over nicely for tulips blooming April through early June?

TreeSong: Just cut a few of these "Carpet" (Scarlet) roses, for inside vases, still leaving hundreds of other blooms outside, and we have had 0C degrees several of the past mornings. Cheers. Note: An eyestopper for your tree bed. Cheers!

@FrankMosher those look amazing. Now if I had them plant Carpet Roses as well as tulips in the same area, so that tulips would bloom April-June and Carpet Roses June-freezing, how should the Carpet Roses be planted in relation to the tulips?

How much space would be needed between a Carpet Rose plant and the nearest tulip bulbs, so that they would both bloom year after year?

How far apart should the Carpet Roses be planted from each other?

Do the Carpet Roses need to be deadheaded constantly, or it's enough to just cut them back every early spring?

Since the tree loses all its leaves mid-late November through late March, would anyone suggest a low evergreen shrub around the tree instead of flowers?

Though I must say the Ground Roses look spectacular and are super low maintenance.

I would only plant tulips in the backyard as I think people passing by would pick them in front around the tree.

Any of the heathers (Erica) might work. They are evergreen and bloom from December to April. Low growing and tough.

Good choice, my heather lasted for years......

RobinD said:Good choice, my heather lasted for years......

How long do they usually last?

No idea......if they like their home I imagine for years....they don't like lime, something to think about. I did have my plant about 3' from my foundation.

I have one heather (December Red) since 2006 and it continues to thrive. It blooms for me from Dec-Apr. I have others with later bloom periods, it would be good to mix it up a bit for longer bloom.

Another thought would be a pieris - I think there are lower varieties, some get pretty rangy. They bloom early (great for the bees) then keep up a show with their brilliant new growth into fall. Evergreen as well.

I'd also mix in some spring blooming bulbs just for a pop.