Woodland Plants

Woodland plants are plants that thrive in dappled shade to full shade. Australian Native woodland plants are sometimes referred to as ‘understory plants’.

Many popular woodland plants used in Australian Gardens are originally from Europe, North America and Asia. It is common for these imported woodlanders to grow beneath deciduous trees amongst the leaf litter or leaf mould.

Creating a Woodland Garden

Many Woodland Plants can be grown in pots or containers in a shaded position. However a woodland garden can easily be created beneath deciduous trees or a mixture of evergreen trees and deciduous trees especially in temperate climates. Eucalypts are not usually suitable except for the native woodland plants

Look for an area of dappled shade with protection from hot afternoon sun in particular. Areas beneath Japanese Maple Trees, Beech Trees. Woodland plants may be either dry loving woodland plants or moist loving woodlanders, however both types require a humus rich soil that imitates the natural accumulation of leaf litter or leaf mould.

Some woodland gardeners dig in coir peat (to retain moisture) and mushroom compost when starting a new woodland area, natural compost and leaf mould is usually available and is recommended.

It need to be remembered that not all plants of related species require the same conditions, so although some Iris are suitable for a woodland garden others are not. And some plants will do well in a woodland situation as well as in the open garden.