| A maple is really difficult for the usual plants to grow under. It seems to grow it's roots very close to the surface, which then grab moisture and nutrients from the other plants. The dryness is a major problem, since Virginia usually has 4 to 8 weeks of drought or near-drought during the hot summer months (actually, many parts of Virginia are already suffering from drought right now). This means that only the most drought-tolerate plant will survive. I've gotten grass, Boston ivy, and lily-of-the-valley to grow under adult maples, but only the ivy looked good year round. Since ivy is nearly an invasive menace, I can't really recommend it. If your friend plans to irrigate (and drip irrigation will do quite well), then any shade-tolerant plant that will grow from zone 5 down through zone 7 should grow nicely. Zone 8 plants may or may not make it through the winter, although a good mulch helps. It would probably be easiest to adapt the xeric area by using a good mulch from near the trunk to the drip-line, and then have a border of bulbs and perennials such as daylilies, oenothera, or rudbeckia along the dripline's edge. Once established, those will survive with little extra care. |
