L. Young of Schaumburg, IL asks,

“Hello, I live in zone 5 and I was looking for some plants that would survive under a pine tree. I tried hosta\’s but they died. Do you have any suggestions? Thank You”

 I think your best bet in finding a solution is to contact a garden coach or a nursery near you for assistance. Since so many things can affect a planting, beyond just being under a pine tree, it is important to evaluate many aspects of your environment to make good choices. For instance, I wonder why the hostas died. Is there actually a lot of sun exposure under the pine tree? Did you water the hostas? Were they planted properly? Do you have the right soil nutrients to support hostas? Did you over or under fertilize them? And so forth….And, finally, it might be worth asking if this is a large tree? Often it is best to leave the root zones under large trees alone and not do a lot of planting under them.

There are several plants that do well in dry shade, which is what I’m assuming you’re dealing with. But, do keep in mind that any plant that is labelled “drought tolerant” or “tolerates dryness” may require several seasons of consistent watering in order for them to become established. After they become established, tapering off watering allows them to then acclimate to their dry environment.

One plant I love for dry shade that may perform in your area is Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’. Not only does this herbaceous perennial offer beautiful, broad, heart shaped leaves, but it also has brilliant silvery tones that brighten up dark areas. (See the middle plant in the photo) And, it blooms blue like a forget-me-not but without the “stickery” seeds. It will tolerate some sun with sufficient water. And, it will need to be watered regularly until it is established.

Thanks for writing in and good luck!