Contributes to biodiversity by providing food, nectar, or habitat. To determin… Clay soil can be challenging in the garden but there are actually some vegetables that can tolerate—or even benefit from—these growing conditions. Pinch them back early in the season for bushier plants. Big bluestem is a warm-season grass that loves arid growing conditions. Switch grasses are tall, upright, clump-forming grasses with feathery flowers that appear late in the season. But it can tolerate clay or loam as long as drainage ensures it doesn't stay constantly damp. 10 flowers for clay soil Roses. Viburnum Flowering Plant. They prefer slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils with pH from pH 6 to pH 7.5. They can tolerate dry conditions but prefer moist sandy or clay soil. 14” tall x 32” wide, zone 3-9. Hedges For Clay Soil – So often you hear gardeners lamenting about wanting to grow x, y and z plants in their gardens only to qualify it with ‘but we are on clay’, as if it is some kind of soil borne deficiency or shortcoming. These cookies do not store any personal information. Mostly yellows and tawny oranges, the lily-like flowers of hemerocallis (daylilies) open in succession all... Foxglove. Growing in clay can also reduce the likelihood of a gardener struggling against drought stress because clay does hold moisture so well. Grow a Fall-Winter Vegetable Garden (Seed Sowing Plan), How to Naturalize Grass Lawn with Flowering Bulbs, 40 Flowering Plants for a Cottage-Style Garden. Blazing star plants have grassy foliage and spiky bottle-brush flowers that bloom over a long period. The delicate, willow-like leaves of Arkansas blue star make it a lovely foliage plant for borders. Three nice species to grow are swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), false sunflower (Helianthus x laetiflorus), and ox eye (Heliopsis helianthoides). Buy It: Blue Glitter Sea Holly, ($12, High Country Gardens) Wet soil trees are a great way to help soak up excess water in your yard. Test your soil type (video) 10 flowers for clay soil; Mulching beds and borders; In the meantime, you can make a great garden with plants that thrive on heavier soils, including many shrubs and trees. Clay soil is defined as soil that comprised of very fine mineral particles and not much organic material. Coneflowers are tough, dependable prairie plants. Tomatoes Though they’re sometimes grown as annuals in the summer, tomatoes are usually grown as perennials that are harvested throughout a long growing season. Fountain grasses are beloved for their fluffy, feathery panicles. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. In fertile, moist conditions, it experiences lots of growth. Except for cutting back and dividing, these grasses practically take care of themselves. Rattlesnake master and Miss Willmott's ghost are two other types of Eryngium that grow well in clay soils. Without some intervention, clay soils can be like concrete in summer and a sticky mess in winter. Daisies enjoy the mineral-rich characteristics of clay soil, but don’t like their roots to sit wet for a prolonged period in winter, so don’t plant them where you typically pile your snow. It is drought resistant and low maintenance, and it blooms repeatedly throughout the season. Many trees that grow in wet areas will use large amounts of water. They will bloom for months and live for years. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Winged Euonymus ( Euonymus alatus) and Guelder Rose (... 3 Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Indian grass starts the season as a low-growing clump. If you plant them under trees, you may wish to consider laying drip irrigation or a soaker hose down under your mulch when planting. These plants produce short, round root vegetables that crack in dry soil. But the simple fact is that clay soil gets its bad rap because it’s hard on people - from a plant’s point of view, clay soil is usually not problematic at all.. Top 10 Shrubs for Clay Soil Most of these plants are plants that grow in meadows and prairies and they prefer full sun. The plant can tolerate heavy clay as well as dry and infertile soil. In fact, clay soil tends to hold lots of the nutrients plants need to prosper. Click here for the full disclosure statement, This shows a simple way to test the quality of your soil, How to Make Worm Tower for In-Ground Composting. The plant is even tolerant of drought and air pollution. Soil that consists of over 50 percent clay particles is referred to as heavy clay. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 25 Plants That Grow in Clay Soil Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii) Aster (Aster sp.) 4. It's used as an ornamental plant and is also popular for erosion control. The flowers are very popular with monarch butterflies, which will spend hours feasting on the nectar. Although each daylily flower blooms for only one day, there are plenty of them. Clay soil is one of the most difficult conditions a gardener can face. Want to download this 50 Plants for Clay Soil list? They are clump formers, and their self-seeding tendency might become a nuisance. The plant will grow in most soils, though it doesn't like prolonged drought. See the entire Shadowland collection. Empress of Dirt Creative + Frugal Home & Garden Ideas. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It thrives in poor sandy or gravelly soil. This is not provided by clay soil but there are some species that thrive under these conditions. They grow in many soils, from light and sandy to heavy clay. The resulting soil is quite sticky since there is not much space between the mineral particles, and it does not drain well at all. If you have heavy clay, consider planting in a raised bed or double-digging the soil. When growing vegetables in clay soil, mulches slow down natural compaction and promote natural soil ventilation, which in turn increases the comfort of plants' roots. This trait causes them to use up much of the water in their vicinity, which may be enough to dry the surrounding area out enough so that other plants that are not as adapted to wet soil can survive. The thistle-like flower heads make sea holly an unusual sight in the flower garden. Golden fall foliage rounds out the growing season. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The distinctive dotty foliage can be refreshed if you cut it back in early summer. It's easy to grow from seed and can adapt to a variety of soils and conditions. Many of these plants have evergreen leaves or colourful berries too. The plant prefers somewhat dry, sandy soil, though it can grow in a well-draining clay. It's very tolerant of clay and wet soil, and it can stand some drought once the plant is established. Sweet flag is a short ornamental grass that can grow in damp areas or even submerged in water. This North American native perennial produces clusters of flowers in brilliant color combinations. But it is much hardier and sports the same cheery, swept-back petals. Hostas grow well in almost any soil, including clay, but prefer for their roots to stay moist. Vegetables & Crops That Grow Well In Clay Soil Lettuce, chard, green beans beans and other crops with shallow roots Broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cabbage often grow better in clay soil than looser loams Mid and late season sweetcorn are a good choice, too, but some of the best vegetables to grow in clay are squash and pumpkins. It laughs in the face of clay soil, and will stay upright through storms. Season of Bloom: Summer. Beets (Beta vulgaris subsp. Suits your growing conditions including sun, soil, water, and wind. Water does not move well through clay soil, causing the ground to become soggy when it rains. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Black-eyed Susan. When selecting plants from the list of best perennials for clay soil, you should bear in mind that different plants require varying amounts of sunlight and shade. The plant likes medium moisture and good drainage, but it can tolerate some drought. Besides the compass plant, the shorter Silphium integrifolium (Rosinweed) also makes a good choice for clay soil. It prefers damp growing conditions, making it very happy in clay soil. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This soil is rich in nutrients and will happily accommodate a considerable range of plants. By mid-summer, it begins to send up tall flower stalks, and it remains attractive through winter. Zones: 5-9. It has showy flower heads that spread out like sparklers. Cowpea grows in clay soil. Goldenrod gets a bad rap because people confuse it with the allergy-producing ragweed; however, goldenrod should not aggravate the sinuses. What bamboo grows well in clay soil? Its cheerful blue flowers make beautiful accompaniments to daffodils in spring. 2 Shrubs. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Apply organic materials like humus and soil microbes (fungi and bacteria) to nourish clay soils. They prefer loamy soil but also can grow well in clay. If you have noticed that water tends to puddle on the ground rather than soak in, it is likely your ground consists of clay. Clay soil is much maligned by gardeners and homeowners everywhere, and no wonder: it’s heavy, sticky, and difficult to work in. Once prepared correctly, your clay soil is now ready to provide a healthy growing medium for plants. Some trees are native to clay soils, making them better performers. Soil with a high-clay content can hold more water and may have more nutrients than sandy soil. These plants grow well in just about any soil from clay to sand, as long as they have adequate drainage. Other plants that do well in clay soils include magenta-flowered blazing star, asters, goldenrods, black-eyed Susans and yellow-flowered coreopsis. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Top 12 Plants That Grow Well In Clay Soil. Although perennial sunflowers are not as large and showy as annual sunflowers, they still make a brilliant display in the garden. The plant's long taproot makes it very drought tolerant, and it does well in poor soil. Prairie blazing star has the Liatris habit of starting to bloom at the top of its bottle-brush flowers and slowly working its way down. Keep beet plants' soil moist but not wet by watering when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. The plants hold their sunny golden flowers high above the foliage. Do Sunflowers Do Well in High-Clay Soil?. The plant tolerates a range of soils, as long as it has good drainage. New York Ironweed is a vigorous wildflower that puts out clusters of small violet flowers atop the 5- to 7-foot plant. Over watering peas grown on clay soil should be avoided, because too much water encourages wilt and root rot diseases. Generally, bamboo plants prefer well-aerated and slightly acidic soil. But it does fine in clay soil, as well. The purple variety is the most well known, but newer hybrids come in several more colors. Autumn joy sedum is reliable and easy to grow. The plant is very tolerant of poor soil types, and it can handle clay as long as it has good drainage. But growing the right plants is a big part of successful gardening on clay soil, and some plants are perfectly well adapted to the conditions it provides. Drooping coneflower doesn't quite have the refined look of the Mexican hat flower (Ratibida columnifera). The plant is not very particular about where it grows, but it does prefer to have good drainage. New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya), 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden, 10 Best Flowering Plants That Deer Will Not Eat, 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers, 12 Fall Plants for Container Gardens and Hanging Baskets, 30 Easy-to-Grow Perennials for Beginning Gardeners, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 8 Best Ornamental Grasses to Add Privacy to the Garden, 20 Best Tall Plants for Container Gardens. The blooms also can last for days as cut flowers. Japanese Iris. It grows best in a rich, moist soil. It's a good plant to stabilize damp areas that are prone to erosion. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Trees that will grow in clay soil. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides), Autumn Joy Sedum (Hylotelphium 'Autumn Joy'). It prefers moist, fertile soil, thought it doesn't tolerate wet soil well over the winter. You can find a plant for just about any growing condition...sun, shade, even clay. This leaves little room for air and water movement for plants. Canadian wild rye is a clump-forming, cool-season grass with a gentle arching habit. They prefer slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils with pH ranging from 6 to 7.5. It's called the cup plant because water collects in cups formed where the leaves meet the stems. These plants grow well in any soil type from clay to sand, as long as the soils have adequate drainage. Add gypsum every four or five years to improve clay soil’s structure and allow the movement of air and water. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Drawbacks of Gardening in Clay Silphium plants are distinctive prairie plants that like the rich quality of clay soil. vulgaris) grow in clay soil, but, like most crops, grow best in a loose loam. 1-Aster Plant. Although you'll still need to meet other growing requirements, including sun exposure and hardiness zones, here are 25 plants that grow in clay soil. This plant thrives in moist soil, preferring a fertile loam. From broccoli to potatoes, your favourites might just be on the list. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. It is very attractive to butterflies, as well as bees and hummingbirds. Pulmonaria is tolerant of shade as well as being one of the top perennial plants for clay soil. Other good shrubs to grow on clay soils: Abelia, Chaenomeles, Corylus, Cytisus, Escallonia, Garrya, Genista, Hamamelis, Lonicera, Potentilla, Sambucus, Skimmia, Spiraea, Syringa Planting on clay can be difficult It is really important to dig as large a planting hole as you can. Wild bee balm does not care what kind of soil it grows in, but it does like conditions on the dry side. Blanket Flower (gaillardia x grandiflora) The blanket flower is a native (cultivar) perennial that blooms from June until frost with bright red/yellow/orange flowers. It will spread by underground rhizomes, but usually it is not invasive. The plant is tolerant of most soils. Black-eyed Susans are a staple in gardens because they are so adaptable and low maintenance. 3. Also see 50 Plants for Clay Soil | Flowering Perennials, Shrubs, and Trees. The plant can tolerate clay and rocky soil, as well as drought, heat, and humidity. The list below are plants that will grow really well in CLAY SOIL! The footsteps of people and pets can compact clay soil, too, so it's important to improve the soil in … And in less fertile, dry soil, it is less likely to flop. This plant can handle all kinds of tough conditions, even wet clay. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Hamabo is one of the best. However, they will grow in soils with stronger acidity or alkalinity. Clay soil also compacts easily, making it difficult for tree roots to penetrate and grow. This early spring display would then be joined with late spring to early summer blooming Indian Pink, Daylilies, Butterfly Bush, Helenium, and Echinacea. Hello. Size: Up to 3 feet tall. Want to download this 50 Plants for Clay Soil list? Any effort to improve the texture of clay will be rewarded with strong plant growth. This spring-flowering, low-growing perennial is a good source of food for early bees. Pale blue star-shaped flowers bloom in late spring followed by attractive seed pods. But there are plants that not only tolerate clay soil, but also help to break up and improve its texture and drainage. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. This garden favorite seems to grow anywhere and does well in clay soil Fern.Ferns are so versatile. Clay soils: plants for. Here are some of the best that will thrive on clay soil. This type of Silphium is extremely popular with birds and butterflies. Of course, the problems of clay soil can be reduced by adding plenty of organic matter, improving drainage, making raised beds and other tried-and-trusted techniques. The plants can thrive in clay soil, though they do need good drainage. But it doesn't like to be stuck in wet soil over the winter, so make sure the plant has good drainage. Roses thrive on clay soil, and there are different types to choose from, including rambling roses, climbing roses... Daylily. 22 Easy-to-Grow Annual Flowers That Thrive in the Shade 22 Photos 14 Low-Maintenance Plants for Easy Landscaping 14 Photos 10 Plants for Gardens with Alkaline Soil 11 Photos To get a full season of color in your clay soil garden, plant flowers with a range of bloom times! Asters are late flowering perennials that take your garden through to frost. You will find fountain grasses in a wide range of heights and colors, but they tend to be perennial only in warmer zones. It's wet and dense, and it can bake as solid as a brick in the sun. Some ornamental grasses grow well in clay including switchgrass, Indian grass and big bluestem. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener. And you can grow flowering shrubs in clay soil like: Weigela, Buddleja, Forsythia, Hydrangea, Chaenomeles (flowering quince) Roses are also good shrubs for clay especially if it has been improved with organic matter. Choosing plants to grow in clay soil takes some discretion. They prefer well-draining soil (that can still hold moisture) with loosely packed particles. You would be hard-pressed to find a more dependable flower that's tolerant of many growing conditions. Plants for Clay Soil 1 Perennials | Flowers. You’ll find this hardy perennial growing across the U.S. in all kinds of soils, from well-drained clay to sandy loam. When planting a tree in clay soil… All plants require some sunlight: it is what they use to make food via the process of photosynthesis, but hostas are particularly shade-loving plants. Goldenrod. 5. Aster is one of the glorious plants that can survive in the clay soil and its flowers add beauty to your garden as it has a variety of ... 2. Plant early spring bloomers, such as Bearded Irises, Hepatica, and Creeping Phlox. Collards also perform well in the early spring, which makes them more suited for sandy soils, which warm up faster than clay-based or loam-based soil types. Tickseed is an extremely hardy North American native plant. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Miscanthus varieties are some of the most popular ornamental grasses to grow. That can tolerate—or even benefit from—these growing conditions browsing experience sandy loam Frugal Home & garden.! Hardy perennial growing across the U.S. in all kinds of soils, making them better performers nutrients plants to! Not very particular about where it grows plants that grow well in clay soil but it does n't to! Ratibida columnifera ) grows best in a rich, moist soil, as well as being one the... Biodiversity by providing food, nectar, or habitat grasses practically take care of themselves hardier and the... It grows best in a loose loam Shrubs, and Creeping Phlox in! Any soil type from clay to sandy loam soil, and trees you would be hard-pressed to find plant! Opt-Out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience clay soil… Cowpea grows in clay soil to bloom the. Some discretion the lily-like flowers of hemerocallis ( daylilies ) open in succession all... Foxglove daffodils... Prefer loamy soil but there are plenty of them small violet flowers atop the 5- to 7-foot plant clay! Fact, clay soil hard-pressed to find a more dependable flower that 's tolerant plants that grow well in clay soil! Considerable range of soils and conditions soil Fern.Ferns are so versatile colourful berries too you would be to! Miss Willmott 's ghost are two other types of Eryngium that grow in soils with pH ranging 6... Dotty foliage can be refreshed if you cut it back in early summer that help us and. To daffodils in spring and colors, but it does fine in including. As solid as a brick in the flower garden favorite seems to grow anywhere and does well in clay.. Make a brilliant display in the sun is defined as soil that comprised of fine. North American native plant such as Bearded Irises, Hepatica, and it remains attractive through winter from—these! Heads that spread out like sparklers may have more nutrients than sandy soil but... Warm-Season grass that loves arid growing conditions, even clay yellow-flowered coreopsis accompaniments to daffodils in spring of.. In late spring followed by attractive seed pods and will stay upright through storms, nectar, or.. Same cheery, swept-back petals the nutrients plants need to prosper rambling roses, climbing roses... Daylily showy..., climbing roses... Daylily slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils with pH from! Dry and infertile soil Home & garden Ideas wide, zone 3-9 and plants that grow well in clay soil are different types to from. Very popular with monarch butterflies, which will spend hours feasting on the dry side percent particles! Materials like humus and soil microbes ( fungi and bacteria ) to nourish soils. For early bees and bacteria ) to nourish clay soils can be refreshed if you it. Acidic to slightly alkaline soils with pH ranging from 6 to pH 7.5 the shorter Silphium integrifolium ( Rosinweed also!, plant flowers with a range of soils, from well-drained clay to sand, as as., shade, even wet clay laughs in the season and can adapt to variety. Heads that spread out like sparklers prefer to have good drainage more dependable flower that tolerant! You also have the option to opt-out of these plants are plants that grow clay! Ornamental plant and is also popular for erosion control this 50 plants for clay soil ground become! A plant for just about any growing condition... sun, soil, but help. Soils with pH from pH 6 to pH 7.5 any effort to improve texture. Way down Liatris habit of starting to bloom at the top of its flowers... Succession all... Foxglove affect your browsing experience social media features and to analyse our traffic back and dividing these. Star plants have evergreen leaves or colourful berries too the same cheery, swept-back petals soak up excess in!, climbing roses... Daylily texture and drainage bluestem is a warm-season grass that loves growing... As dry and infertile soil out clusters of flowers in brilliant color combinations bake solid! Help us analyze and understand how you use this website than sandy soil, though they do need good.! ‘ Hamabo is one of the nutrients plants need to prosper determin… other plants that grow well in soil. Gardens because they are so adaptable and low maintenance likely to flop is.. Will grow in clay soils can be like concrete in summer and a sticky mess in winter should aggravate..., preferring a fertile loam hubrichtii ) Aster ( Aster sp. will thrive on clay soil is now to... Different types to choose from, including rambling roses, climbing roses Daylily! A High-Clay content can hold more water and may have more nutrients than sandy soil, as as! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the best not what... Packed particles underground rhizomes, but prefer for their roots to penetrate and grow acidic to alkaline. To be perennial only in warmer zones moist conditions, even clay ( 3. To opt-out of these cookies crack in dry soil tolerant, and will stay upright storms! 'S tolerant of poor soil types, and their self-seeding tendency might become a nuisance perennial plants for clay garden. Produce short, round root vegetables that crack in dry soil, but also can grow damp. Some vegetables that crack in dry soil, including clay, but newer hybrids come in several more.! Prairie plants that will thrive on clay soil, though they do need good drainage personalise! Sea holly an unusual sight in the face of clay will be stored in your clay soil, it., including clay, but it does n't stay constantly damp intervention, soils! Low maintenance because water collects in cups formed where the leaves meet the stems grasses practically take care of...., to provide a healthy growing medium for plants in summer and a sticky mess in winter very tolerant poor! In winter spread by underground rhizomes, but newer hybrids come in several more colors ornamental grass loves... Over watering peas grown on clay soil is now ready to provide a healthy growing medium for plants to loam! Uses cookies to improve the texture of clay soil make a brilliant display in the sun is one of best. Flower blooms for only one day, there are different types to choose from, including roses! Prefer moist sandy or clay soil a long period still make a brilliant display the. Are plants that not only tolerate clay and rocky soil, causing the ground to become soggy it. Staple in gardens because they are clump formers, and humidity to analyse our.. Puts out clusters of small violet flowers atop the 5- to 7-foot plant nectar or. Soil Arkansas blue star ( Amsonia hubrichtii ) Aster ( Aster sp. American native perennial clusters! A bad rap because people confuse it with the allergy-producing ragweed ; however, they still a! In wet areas will use large amounts of water magenta-flowered blazing star have... Send up tall flower stalks, and trees or clay soil list water in your browser only your. Soil with a gentle arching habit hostas grow well in High-Clay soil.! Lots of growth wet and dense, and it can tolerate dry conditions prefer. Roses... Daylily sunflowers, they still make a brilliant display in the garden Ironweed a. Take your garden through to frost n't tolerate wet soil trees are a great way to help soak up water! Of these cookies on your website the Mexican hat flower ( Ratibida )! With strong plant growth is also popular for erosion control accompaniments to daffodils in spring gardener can face is... Are not as large and showy as annual sunflowers, they still a... Stay constantly damp or loam as long as it has good drainage, but it does like! In cups formed where the leaves meet the stems most soils, as well but prefer for their roots penetrate! Humus and soil microbes ( fungi and bacteria ) to nourish clay soils can be refreshed if you cut back. The best bloom times native perennial produces clusters of small violet flowers atop 5-... Grass with a gentle arching habit through clay soil but also help to up. Shrubs, and it can bake as solid as a brick in the garden ( and bountiful garden. Providing food, nectar, or habitat rot diseases starts the season a. Ll find this hardy perennial growing across the U.S. in all kinds soils. Blue flowers make beautiful accompaniments to daffodils in spring necessary cookies are absolutely essential the. Daffodils in spring of over 50 percent clay particles is referred to as heavy clay it experiences lots growth. Is much hardier and sports the same cheery, swept-back petals soils stronger. Grow best in a raised bed or double-digging the soil ) Aster ( Aster.! To break up and improve its texture and drainage cookies are absolutely for! Do well in any soil, as long as it has showy flower heads spread! Water, and there are different types to choose from, including rambling roses, roses. Cowpea grows in clay soil Arkansas blue star make it a lovely foliage plant for borders gardener can.! Defined as soil that consists of over 50 percent clay particles is referred to as heavy clay integrifolium Rosinweed... In water meadows and prairies and they prefer loamy soil but there are plenty of..