What grows under the tall trees in a forest?

Imagine you are walking in a big forest. Tall trees stand all around you, reaching up high. Take a slow breath. The air smells cool and earthy.

Now look down, near your shoes. The tall trees are way up above you. Everything near the ground is quiet and still. So what grows down here, under the tall trees in a forest?

Up at the top, the trees spread out lots and lots of leaves. Together, those leaves make a big green roof over the forest. Those leaves catch the sunlight. Trees use that light to make their food.

The leaves catch most of the light before it reaches the ground. So the ground below stays shady and cool. We call that shady ground the forest floor, which means the ground under the forest trees. What kind of plant could grow in a shady place like that?

The forest floor is home to plants that need only a little light. One of them is a fern, which means a plant with long, feathery leaves. Ferns grow in green clumps close to the ground. You can find ferns all across the forest floor.

Ferns spread their wide leaves out flat. That way they catch the little spots of sunlight that slip between the trees. Those little spots are enough for ferns to grow. Even in the shade, ferns stay fresh and green.

Beside the ferns grows moss, which means a soft green carpet of tiny plants. Moss covers rocks, logs and the forest floor. Each patch looks like a springy little cushion. It needs only a little light, too.

Tall trees catch most sunlight, so ferns and moss grow on the shady forest floor. Ferns and moss need only a little light.

High above, the leaves rustle in their big green roof. Down below, the ferns and moss sit in the cool shade, fresh and green.