If the apple is productive I'd keep under planting (ie competition) to a minimum. You'll also need access for maintenance and harvesting. A picture of the situation and an indication of your geographical location would be very helpful.

If the objective is to screen a view, would a rambling rose (not one so vigorous that it overwhelms the tree) suit the purpose? It would of course make harvesting apples problematic. Tell us what it is you are trying to accomplish .

Is it to screen a view? Anyway, not sure a rambler would work on a dwarf apple, especially not on one which is meant to be productive.

OP asks about aralia Sun King. I wouldnt consider it a shrub. It is late to emerge in spring and dies back at frost. A wonderful perennial for a woodland garden.

joypdx = joy+pdx

pdx=Portland, Oregon

Does the tree still produce fruit? If so, you might want to consider keeping the area clearer so you can clean up fallen apples and leaves. It's easer to do if the stuff isn't falling into bushes.

I would recommend against a rose in the apple tree. Or anything else growing up into the apple tree. It's not very good for the tree. And if it has thorns, not very good for you if you want to be picking.

I asked those questions and made those points above. No answers yet.

Here is the story. (Confession: We have been naive gardeners.}

This is the view from our living room window. As you will observe, there is a spot on the right for a medium size shrub, with a nice foliage would be nice in this spot.

The appe tree was planted in 1998, on its right is another small tree ( I have forgotten the name). In between this small tree and the apple tree is Rose banksia ( planted in 2015) which I have encouraged to climb both the trees and it has done so.

When our kids were young, we enjoyed plenty of apples, that was many years ago and now apples are mostly left to fall off and the tree is on its own. We are reluctant to remove anything that is still

growing happily, so the apple tree has stayed reminding us of days gone by.

May be Rose banksia was not a good idea but now it is too late to relocate the vine.

I will appreciate any suggestions to improve this view. The photo is taken facing north .

Portland, Oregon = PDX

Right. There is room there for an entire herbaceous/small shrub border. Make sure to repeat some anchor plants. The Aralia would be fine. Don't grow anything on the apple tree and regularly train and prune the R banksiae.

agree.. with all that bare ground.. gardening under the apple tree would be my last concern ..

understand.. that to tree.. nor shrub.. stops growing at some magical height... sooner or later.. you will be having to renovation prune any shrub to keep it small under the small tree... as i get older.. i just regret all these type of things i planted.. because i cant get out there to take care of it all...

ken

" nor shrub.. stops growing at some magical height... sooner or later.. you will be having to renovation prune any shrub to keep it small under the small tree. "

Well, that's not entirely true at all!! There are a great many shrubs that are genetically programmed to stay quite small and compact. They could be in place and left unattended - without any pruning - for several decades and still not grow to a size where they would need pruning attention. And a dieback perennial like the aralia poses no threat whatsoever!

The important take away from this is that not ALL trees and shrubs are created equally and not all grow to unwieldy proportions regardless of how long they remain in place!!

It is encouraging to note that it is okay to underplant an apple tree. Unlike underplanting a big maple and I learnt this the hard way.

Ariala was a suggestion, I have never had one before and the foliage is quite attractive. But it may not grow large enough to fill the large space as you can see. This is based on all ariala photos I have seen so far. I am having second thoughts now. Perhaps Buddlea or oakleaf hydrangea is also under consideration. Buddlea does not require much water too and both do well on slopes.

Buddleja is indifferent to slopes, not that I can see a slope anyway. What they do like is full sun and good drainage. They would not do well under your apple and most would grow too large anyway. And Buddleja is a twiggy mess in winter. The Aralia (NB spelling) would be a better choice.

I think a combination of Aralia ’Sunking’, Japanese Painted Ferns, and maybe Hosta would look nice. The Aralia would be a bright spot, and I have become enamored with ferns.

Does this area stay moist?

Answering previous comments -

The area does not stay wet enough for hosta or fern.

I have never tried digging under apple tree. It looks quite dry and compact. Even weeds rarely grow here.

Hostas and ferns don't need wet conditions, they just need sufficient moisture. If an apple tree can grow there I'm pretty sure they can. I have failed with Japanese Painted Fern under a birch tree (much drier than under an apple) but there are plenty of other ferns which are happy there.

If you post pictures of the other plants nearby we can identify them and we'd have an idea of what is happy in those conditions. I believe I can see a Nandina?

Aralia can grow quite large given the right conditions. I have a friend with an Aralia Sun King which every year grows at least as tall as her 6’ tall husband.

I find the apple tree aralia combination jarring. An Asian woodland plant under a north american open field tree. What would be a more natural vignette?

I have no experience of the Aralia so can't opine on that. But I don't think of an apple as an 'North American open field tree'. They're universally grown and the domestic apple originated in central Asia. Design wise they're just small trees. We mix plants from around the world all the time in our gardens.

I know we gardeners use plants from around the world and probably none more so than the British who I believe have a small native pallet due to glaciation. But the more conscious I become of the value of natives (we do have native malus) the more my eye cringes at really glaring anomalies. Aralia under an apple tree just pushes that button for me. Totally subjective but just sharing one opinion and wondering what more harmonious ideas others may have.

I may also be reacting to the dissonance of a domesticated apple tree with its orchard associations combined with a japanese woodland partner.. Which isnt to say that they dont make for happy marriages, like my own:)

Ariala is in. The area was quite hard and dry but it was not too difficult to dig. Added lots of compost during planting and grass mulch. It has been over a week, ariala looks happy. There is a dogwood and rose of sharon on far left ( not in photo). I do not use irrigation in this bed instead handwater these shrubs once or twice a week during Jun-August. As suggested, I am encouraged to plant japanese painted fern and hosta under the tree also. I hope you can see the raised bed and small slope. Lawns mostly left unwatered to conserve water :) , waiting for the rains.