Hardy geraniums, periwinkle, liriope, epimedium, hellebores, ferns and spring bulbs: low plants for the sun or shade beneath roses and shrubs, with RHS hardiness, size and light data for each. They arrive as young plants and bulbs, with free tracked delivery to Ireland and 24 more EU countries.
Which plants suit underplanting roses and shrubs?
The plants here are low perennials, evergreens, ferns and bulbs that the RHS lists at 10 to 100 cm tall, so they sit beneath roses and shrubs; choose by how much light reaches the ground.
| Plant | RHS hardiness | Size (height x spread) | Sun | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy geranium (Geranium) | H6 to H7 (about -15 to -20 °C) | 10 cm to 1 m x 10 cm to 1 m | Full sun to partial shade | Summer flowers; G. macrorrhizum is semi-evergreen and also takes full shade |
| Periwinkle (Vinca) | H6 (about -15 °C) | Up to 50 cm x 1 to 2.5 m | Full sun to full shade | Evergreen and wide spreading, so it suits larger beds |
| Blue lily-turf (Liriope muscari) | H5 (about -10 °C) | 10 to 50 cm x 10 to 50 cm | Partial to full shade | Evergreen; autumn flowers; sandy or loam soil |
| Barrenwort (Epimedium) | H5 to H7 (about -10 to -20 °C) | 10 to 50 cm x 10 cm to 1 m | Partial shade; one variety also full sun | Spring flowers |
| Hellebore (Helleborus) | H4 to H7 (about -5 to -20 °C) | 10 to 50 cm x 10 to 50 cm | Partial shade; H. orientalis also full sun | Winter to spring flowers; moist soil |
| Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) | H5 (about -10 °C) | 10 to 50 cm x 10 cm to 1 m | Partial to full shade | Evergreen; moist soil |
| Tulip (Tulipa, Triumph Group) | H6 (about -15 °C) | 10 to 50 cm x 10 to 50 cm | Full sun | Spring flowers |
Data come from the RHS Plant Finder and PFAF, and each product page lists its sources. Temperatures are the warm end of each RHS band.
Light, dry shade and spacing
The RHS says roses love sun and flower little in shade, so the ground beneath a rose is usually bright. Under larger shrubs it is shadier and often dry. For dry shade the RHS suggests digging in garden compost or well-rotted manure before planting, watering well before and after, and mulching. It names liriope, epimedium, bergenia, Alchemilla, tiarella and shield ferns for dry, shady spots. It also advises leaving about 60 cm around a rose so it does not compete for water and light; we suggest keeping new plants outside that ring.
Timing, watering and plant size
The RHS says most shrubs are best planted from autumn to spring, avoiding hot, dry weather and frozen ground: in Ireland, October to November or February to April. It gives November for tulips. Water newly planted shrubs regularly in dry spells in their first year; established perennials usually need no regular watering, but plants below tree canopies or beside walls may need water even after rain. Many of these are young plants in 9 cm pots, sold in packs, so allow a few seasons to fill out. Wide-spreading types such as periwinkle suit larger beds.
Mulching and replacing roses
The RHS recommends mulch at least 5 cm and ideally 7.5 cm thick, laid over moist soil, in mid to late spring or autumn, or at any time around new plantings. Do not smother low plants or pile mulch against woody stems, which can soften them and make them vulnerable to disease. If you remove an old rose and plant another in the same spot, the RHS warns of replant disease and advises swapping the soil, about 45 cm deep and wide.
What this list does and does not mean
The RHS Plant Finder and PFAF data were checked in October 2026. These plants tolerate the conditions shown, which is not the same as thriving in them. Shrub roots also take up water, which no table can measure for your garden.
Frequently asked questions
What can I plant under roses?
Low plants listed for sun to partial shade, such as hardy geraniums, periwinkle and spring bulbs. Leave about 60 cm round the rose, as the RHS advises.
What grows in dry shade under shrubs?
The RHS names liriope, epimedium, bergenia, tiarella and shield ferns. See our shade garden plants.
When should I plant in Ireland?
October to November or February to April, in line with the RHS advice to plant from autumn to spring.
How deep should mulch be?
At least 5 cm and ideally 7.5 cm, kept clear of woody stems.
Which soils do these tolerate?
Periwinkle is listed for clay, sandy, loam or chalky soil; liriope for sandy or loam. See clay soil plants, chalky soil plants or plants for banks and slopes.