Arborvitae trees are a popular choice for creating instant privacy, defining property lines, and adding year round structure to the landscape. Understanding what to plant with arborvitae trees is essential for transforming a row of green pillars into a rich, layered, and thriving garden design. The right companions can soften the rigid lines of these evergreens, introduce seasonal color, and support local wildlife while ensuring every part of your outdoor space feels cohesive and alive.
When planning your landscape, it is important to consider the specific growing conditions where your arborvitae are planted, including sunlight, soil drainage, and mature size. Matching plants with compatible water needs and growth habits reduces maintenance stress and prevents future issues like disease or root competition. Thoughtful selection turns a simple screening hedge into the backbone of a beautiful and balanced garden ecosystem that performs well for years.
Shrubs and Perennials for Layered Texture
Companion shrubs provide body and structure near the base of arborvitae, filling in empty spaces and creating a seamless transition from tree to garden bed. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs with different bloom times and foliage colors ensure the area around your arborvitae stays visually interesting across all seasons.
Boxwood and Dwarf Nandina
Boxwood offers a classic, low growing frame that tolerates pruning and maintains a neat appearance close to the trunks of arborvitae. Its compact growth and glossy green leaves create a refined contrast, especially when planted in formal settings.
Dwarf nandina brings delicate bamboo like foliage and graceful red tinges in cooler weather, adding a lighter texture that prevents the base from looking too heavy. Together, these shrubs establish a structured foundation that highlights the vertical emphasis of the taller trees.
Ornamental Grasses and Coneflower
Ornamental grasses like feather reed grass or blue fescue introduce movement and airy texture that balances the solid mass of arborvitae walls. Their flowing blades catch light and create a relaxed, naturalistic edge that softens any hard landscaping lines.
Coneflower, or echinacea, contributes sturdy upright stems and daisy like flowers that attract pollinators, while its drought tolerance makes it a practical choice for sunny borders. The combination of fine grass blades and robust perennial flowers creates dynamic contrast without overwhelming the dense evergreens.
Groundcovers and Flowering Plants
Low growing groundcovers suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and hide the often bare lower stems of arborvitae, resulting in a clean and finished look. Selecting plants with different flowering periods ensures that the bed is never dull.
Hosta and Hellebore
Hosta varieties thrive in the shade to partial shade conditions often found near the north side of a row of evergreen trees, offering bold leaves in shades of green, blue, and variegated patterns. Their lush foliage adds a tropical, architectural feel to the composition.
Hellebore blooms in late winter and early spring, providing much needed color when the garden is just awakening. Their long lasting flowers in soft pastels or deep tones bring subtle elegance and extend the seasonal appeal of the arborvitae backdrop.
Creeping Phlox and Wild Ginger
Creeping phlox produces a dense carpet of vibrant flowers in spring, creating a joyful splash of color right at the base of the trees. This vigorous groundcover helps fill gaps and ties the planting design together with its spreading habit.
Wild ginger offers heart shaped leaves and a natural ability to spread in shady spots, forming a smooth, weed resistant mat. Its understated presence enhances the woodland character of the landscape and works harmoniously with the evergreen structure above.
Small Trees and Naturalistic Designs
In larger landscapes, pairing arborvitae with complementary small trees can create captivating layered scenery and vertical interest that draws the eye through the entire planting scheme.
Japanese Maple and Dogwood
A Japanese maple contributes delicate foliage, subtle fall color, and graceful branching that play beautifully against the sturdy, uniform columns of arborvitae. The contrast in texture and growth form adds a refined, artistic touch to the design.
Flowering dogwood offers seasonal drama with its showy spring bracts and attractive bark, plus moderate shade tolerance that allows it to coexist under the filtered light of taller evergreen neighbors. This pairing results in a balanced composition with year round character.
Hydrangea and Azalea
Hydrangea shrubs bring big, bold flowers and the ability to adjust soil pH to influence color, adding a flexible element that responds to soil chemistry. Their sturdy stems and lush leaves create a strong focal point near the center of the border.
Azalea contributes clusters of vibrant blossoms in spring and often glossy leaves that enhance the evergreen backdrop. When sited correctly, these flowering shrubs provide seasonal peaks of color that frame the arborvitae with energy and charm.
Design Tips and Practical Considerations
Planting at the correct distance from the arborvitae ensures good air circulation, reduces disease pressure, and allows companion plants enough light to thrive. Most perennials and groundcovers look best when arranged in flowing drifts rather than rigid rows, creating a more natural appearance.
Amending the soil with organic matter improves drainage and fertility, giving both the arborvitae and their companions a strong start. Mulching around the planting area conserves moisture, moderates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds that would otherwise compete for resources.
It is also wise to consider the ultimate height and spread of both the arborvitae and the selected companions, avoiding plants that will eventually crowd or overshadow each other. Thoughtful spacing at the time of planting pays off later with a well proportioned, easy to maintain landscape that feels intentional and serene.
By carefully choosing what to plant with arborvitae trees, you can build a lush, multi layered landscape that highlights the best qualities of these reliable evergreens. The right combination of shrubs, grasses, perennials, and small trees creates a resilient and attractive setting that welcomes wildlife, supports seasonal interest, and reflects your personal gardening style.