Companion planting is a gardening and agriculture technique that has been utilized since ancient times with great success; planting certain plants, trees, and shrubs together can often yield tremendous benefits when these plants are paired together correctly. However, It’s also important to know what plants to not grow underneath a cherry tree; knowing these limitations ahead of time can help save you both time and money in the long run.
Peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, sunflowers, blueberries, and lavender are not good choices to grow under a cherry tree. Further, any plants that might attract harmful pests to your cherry tree, or require full sun should be avoided.
In this article, we’re going to not only explain the concept of companion planting but also go through a list of what not to grow under a cherry tree, in the hopes of sparring you from the time and tricky that would come from having to make these discoveries yourself.
What Is Companion Planting?
Before we get to our list of plants to not try growing under a cherry tree, we’d like to first give you a quick overview of companion planting in general!
Companion planting is, in simple terms, a gardening technique that involves planting different types of plants in close proximity to each other with the intent of achieving unique benefits that only come about as a result of growing those plants together.
There are many potential benefits to companion planting when it is done correctly. Certain plant combinations can help attract beneficial pollinators to your garden, deter certain pests, or even help with the nutrient and pH balance of the soil.
Not all plants and trees can coexist successfully, so it’s important to understand not only which plant pairings to try but also which ones to avoid.
What Not To Plant Under A Cherry Tree: 12 Plants To Avoid
As mentioned earlier, there are quite a few plants and shrubs that should not be planted under or near a cherry tree.
We’ve listed here for you some examples of these so that you can have a better understanding of what to avoid when it comes to growing plants in close proximity to your cherry trees.
Peppers
Pepper plants and cherry trees both prefer loamy soil with a pH level in the 6.0 to 7.0 range.
Unfortunately, these similarities are not enough to make them good partners for companion planting.
Pepper plants of any variety need an abundance of sunlight to grow well and be productive, so planting them under any kind of tree is generally not recommended.
The reality is, cherry trees need full sun to thrive and you can check out our article to learn more about why cherry trees need full sun, but, if you’re going to plant underneath the tree, you have to remember the plant will grow in full shade, under the tree’s canopy!
Tomatoes
Much like pepper plants, tomatoes thrive in well-drained and slightly acidic soil.
Tomatoes also require full sun in order to reach maximum potential, making them a poor choice for planting under a cherry tree.
While some varieties of tomato plants can adapt to growing in partial shade, a location that provides at least six hours of direct light is best if you want to optimize fruit production; this requirement unfortunately rules out the possibility of planting your tomato plants under your cherry trees.
Eggplant
Ideal conditions for growing eggplants involve well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter as well as full sun.
Regrettably, this latter growing condition makes eggplants a poor choice for planting under or near a cherry tree; the tree branches typically do not allow sufficient sunlight through to ground-level where the plants are growing.
Hibiscus
Native to warm tropical climates, these flowering shrubs are a popular landscaping choice for many on account of their beautiful and colorful blooms. Unfortunately, hibiscus plants cannot be grown successfully in close proximity to cherry trees because they have drastically different preferences when it comes to soil moisture.
According to Ohio State University, cherry trees prefer drier, well-drained soil.
Hibiscus plants, meanwhile, prefer moist and sometimes even soggy soil, making these two incompatible as companion plants; as such, hibiscus shouldn’t be planted under cherry trees despite the striking visual combination they would make.
Lavender
While cherry trees and lavender are similar in their preference for well-drained soil (cherry trees in particular are very moisture-sensitive and prone to developing problems if the soil they reside in is too soggy), they are regrettably not good choices for planting together.
Lavender needs full sun in order to thrive, something that would be in short supply if it was planted under a cherry tree.
That being said, there are certain lavender cultivars that are more shade tolerant, and some of these varieties might fare better underneath a cherry tree.
Nasturtiums
While nasturtiums are sometimes used as a decoy of sorts to lure harmful insects such as aphids away from other important plants in your yard or garden, planting these flowers directly underneath or in the immediate vicinity of a cherry tree would most likely be a mistake.
Cherry trees are more vulnerable to aphids than most fruit trees, and as such, any plants such as Nasturtiums, that attract aphids should be kept well away.
That being said, if you ever do find yourself dealing with a harmful aphid infestation that is proving harmful to your cherry tree, products such as BioAdvanced Fruit & Citrus Tree Insect Control can assist you with eliminating these pests; more natural and organic-friendly options such as Safer Brand Insect Soap are also available.
For more information on how to deal with aphids on your plants, check out our article on our sister site about how to keep aphids away, and why they may be coming back!
Blueberries
Blueberry plants are another example of something that needs full sun to thrive.
Blueberry plants can tolerate partial shade, but it will have a significant impact on overall fruit productivity; more shade means fewer flowers during the blooming season, which in turn means fewer berries later in the season.
Because of this, planting blueberries underneath a cherry tree is not ideal; place them in another location, one where they will get plenty of bright sunlight, instead.
Sunflowers
Not only do sunflowers require a great deal of sunlight to grow and thrive (something that is hard to get when grown in the shade of a large tree) they also have a tendency to attract destructive pests such as aphids.
As such, these bright and brilliant flowers are not a great choice for planting underneath a cherry tree, since not only will the sunflower plants themselves likely not grow well but they might also attract aphids to your cherry tree.
Cauliflower
While planting garden vegetables under or around your fruit trees can help you to maximize the space you have, cauliflower is not the best option in this set of circumstances.
Cauliflower prefers moist soil and full sun, making it a less-than-ideal choice for planting under a cherry tree.
Put your cauliflower plants in a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight instead, and try to also mix plenty of organic matter or compost into your soil to encourage growth.
Chrysanthemums
While planting flowers under and around your cherry trees can be a great landscaping decision, it’s important to know which flowers are a good choice for planting underneath a tree and which flowers are not.
Unfortunately, chrysanthemums are not an ideal choice to plant under a cherry tree.
These lovely flowers require at least six hours of direct sunlight a day (something that can be difficult to achieve when planted in the shade of a tree) they will likely not do well in such a location.
Japanese Iris
While these vibrant flowers are a popular choice for many landscapes, the Japanese Iris is regrettably not suitable for planting under cherry trees.
While Japanese Iris plants are fairly adaptable when it comes to light conditions (most types prefer full sun but some varieties are also capable of thriving in partial shade), their preference for wet or boggy soil makes them a poor choice for companion planting with cherry trees (which prefer well-drained soil that doesn’t contain excess moisture).
Black Walnut Trees
While some trees can be planted in close proximity to one another without any serious consequences, this is not the case when it comes to black walnut trees and cherry trees.
Black walnut trees produce a chemical compound known as juglone, which is toxic to certain other plants; this chemical can be found all throughout the tree, even in the root system.
Because this chemical is often excreted from the roots and out into the nearby soil, it is not a good idea to plant anything sensitive to juglone in close proximity to a black walnut tree.
Since cherry trees are among the number of plants that can experience serious detrimental effects as a result of exposure to juglone, it’s best to not plant them nearby to black walnut trees.
Good Companion Plants For Cherry Trees
Now that we’ve talked extensively about what not to plant under or near a cherry tree, let’s talk about some plants that are good companion plants for them.
Since cherry trees make amazing shade trees, you have to remember the plants that can handle shade – will grow the best underneath! To learn more about why cherry trees make great shade trees, head on over to our article!
Additionally, in the case of cherry trees specifically, any plant or shrub that will absorb excess moisture from the soil can be a great companion plant since cherry trees do not like or grow well in excessively soggy soil.
Some examples of good companion plants for cherry trees are as follows:
Dandelions
Believe it or not, these flowering plants (considered by many to be a weed) are actually excellent companion plant to grow under a cherry tree.
Not only do dandelions attract beneficial pollinators, but the long roots of these plants can help bring nutrients that are deep in the soil closer to the surface where the slightly more shallow roots of your cherry trees can more easily absorb them.
Chives
This herb is a surprisingly excellent choice for planting under a cherry tree on account of its inherent antifungal properties.
Cherry trees are (regrettably) fairly susceptible to various fungal issues that can be difficult to deal with if not addressed immediately, so companion planting with chives can be a great way to protect your cherry trees from fungal problems.
Rosemary
Not only is this aromatic herb an excellent addition to any yard or garden all on its own, but it can also be a fantastic companion plant to grow under a cherry tree.
Rosemary’s distinctive aroma can serve as a natural insect repellent, helping to keep away harmful pests that might otherwise do damage to your valuable cherry trees.
Rosemary is also notable for being not only a versatile culinary herb but also a hardy and adaptable plant that is fairly easy to take care of; once it is well-established, it needs very little in the way of specialized care.
Dill
This is another great example of an herb that can be planted and grown under a cherry tree as a beneficial companion plant.
Dill attracts both useful pollinators and predator insects such as ladybugs and aphid midges.
Having a plant that naturally attracts these insects can be a great way to keep pests such as aphids from doing damage to your cherry trees – making dill the perfect addition!
Weeping Willow
If you’re interested in planting other types of trees in close proximity to your cherry tree, weeping willows are an excellent choice.
Not only can these trees add a slightly mythical aesthetic to your landscape, but the way willow trees absorb excess moisture from the soil can be of great benefit when growing moisture-sensitive cherry trees nearby.
Marigolds
A plant known best for its vibrant orange flowers, marigolds are an excellent companion plant to grow under cherry trees because of their unique relationship with nematodes.
According to the University of California Integrated Pest Management, certain types of nematodes (tiny worm-like parasites that live in soil and feed on the roots of plants) can have a negative impact on cherry trees, damaging their root systems and subsequently stunting overall growth and wellness.
Since marigolds contain botanical compounds that are toxic to these parasites, they are a good choice to plant under a cherry tree.
Recap!
And there we have it! As you can see, while there are plenty of plants, shrubs, and even other trees that make good companion plants for cherry trees, there are just as many plants that will do better elsewhere.
Ultimately, when it comes to understanding what not to plant under a cherry tree it’s important to remember the following:
- Any plant that requires full sun should not be planted under a cherry tree. Plants like tomatoes, eggplant, sunflowers, blueberries, and chrysanthemums need at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive, and as such, they are not great choices for growing in the shade of a cherry tree.
- Any plant that prefers soggy or moist soil should not be planted under a cherry tree. Plants such as cauliflower and Japanese irises, which prefer wet soil, are not a great match for cherry trees (which prefer well-drained soil and often experience root issues if forced to grow in excessively wet conditions).
- Any plant that attracts pests that could be harmful to your cherry trees. Plants like nasturtiums can be beneficial for luring pests such as aphids away from your cherry trees but only if planted a safe distance away; plant nasturtiums directly below or in the immediate vicinity and you run the risk of attracting pests to your trees instead.
Should you desire to learn more information about growing and caring for cherry trees, books such as Fruit Trees For Every Garden can be a great resource; arborists that specialize in fruit trees are also a great source of knowledge.
Resources
MN Dana, & BR Lerner. (n.d.). Black walnut toxicity – Purdue University. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-193.pdf
Schüepp, C., Uzman, D., Herzog, F., & Entling, M. H. (2014, January 30). Habitat isolation affects plant–herbivore–enemy interactions on Cherry trees. Biological Control. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964414000206
Wang, K.-H., Hooks, C. R., & Ploeg, A. (2007, July 1). Protecting crops from nematode pests: Using marigold as an alternative to chemical nematicides. ScholarSpace. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/12417
