If you have clay soil in your garden, you know how challenging it can be to work with. Clay-based soils retain moisture well, meaning they can be slow draining and compact easily. When clay soils eventually dry out, they typically become very hard, leading to cracking and shrinking. While you can replace clay soils with store-bought alternatives, it’s much easier and cost-effective to work with what you have. To help you create the garden of your dreams, we’re sharing plants experts say grow in clay soil.
- Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins
- Richard Zondag, horticulturist and owner of Jung Seed Company
Daylily
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) produce vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in a range of colors. “Each bloom lasts just one day, but the plant produces multiple flowers per stem, ensuring long-lasting color,” says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins. “They grow in clumps and spread gradually, making them excellent for borders and mass plantings.” Daylilies have thick, fibrous roots that help them adapt to clay soils.
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 1 to 3 ft tall by 1 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained to heavy clay soils
Black-Eyed Susan
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Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are known for their cheerful, daisy-like blooms and dark central cones. This native perennial or biennial plant thrives in tough soils, including clay, because of its deep taproot that breaks through compacted layers, says Funk. “It is drought-tolerant once established and can handle seasonal wetness,” she adds.
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 1 to 3 ft tall by 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; clay, sandy, and loamy soils
Coneflower
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Coneflower (Echinacea) is a native perennial plant that blooms from midsummer until frost. “Echinaceas are a perennial garden staple, known for their conical seed heads and daisy-like blooms that attract bees and butterflies,” says Richard Zondag, horticulturist and owner of Jung Seed Company. “They tolerate all soil types, including clay, are bothered by few diseases, and resist deer, heat, and drought.”
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 18 inches to 4 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; clay, sandy, and loamy soils
Bee Balm
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Bee balm (Monarda) is a clump-forming perennial with shaggy flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, or white. “Its spreading root system allows it to tolerate compacted soils, while its preference for moist conditions makes it well-suited for heavy clay that retains water,” says Funk. An added bonus? Its minty-smelling foliage helps deter deer and rabbits.
- Zones: 4 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, rich, clay soils
Hosta
Hostas (Hosta spp.) are shade-loving perennials with broad, lush foliage in shades of blue, green, and variegated leaves, says Funk. In summer, they produce tall spikes of purple or white flowers that hummingbirds love. “Their thick, fleshy roots help them anchor in heavy soils, and they thrive in the consistent moisture that clay retains,” Funk notes. “Adding compost improves aeration, making clay an excellent growing medium for hostas.”
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
- Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, rich, clay soils
Panicle Hydrangea
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are known for their large, lush flowers that bloom in shades of pink, blue, white, or green. “H. paniculata is particularly tolerant of heavier clay,” says Funk. “They benefit from added compost to improve drainage and aeration.”
- Zones: 4 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Partial shade to full sun; rich, well-drained, clay soils
Winterberry Holly
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Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) boasts an abundance of bright red berries that add color to the garden in winter, providing food for birds. “Winterberry thrives in wet, heavy clay and is often found in boggy or poorly drained areas,” says Funk. “Its strong root system allows it to adapt to dense soils.”
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 6 to 10 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist to wet, clay soils
Salvia
Certain salvia varieties, like Salvia nemorosa and Salvia pratensis, are able to withstand clay soils, especially when amended with organic matter. “Salvia features spikes of blue, purple, pink, or red flowers atop aromatic, gray-green foliage,” says Funk. “It is a favorite among pollinators and has a long bloom period.”
- Zones: 4 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained to clay soils
Zinnia
Available in a range of shapes and sizes, zinnias (Zinnia spp.) are a popular annual known for their vibrant colors. “The plants bloom prolifically until the first frost in fall, so there’s plenty to enjoy in the flower border and freshly cut arrangements,” says Zondag. “These low-maintenance flowers grow best in well-drained soil, but their strong root systems can handle poor soils, including clay.”
- Zones: 2 to 11, depending on the variety
- Size: 6 inches to 4 feet tall x 12 to 25 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained to clay soils
Sunflower
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Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are popular garden annuals grown for their large, cheerful blooms. “Best known for having dark centers and yellow petals, sunflowers are also available in solid and bicolor shades of cream, orange, red, and earth-tone colors,” says Zondag. “Sunflowers can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay.”
- Zones: 2 to 11, depending on the variety
- Size: 8 inches to 10 feet tall x 12 to 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained to clay soils
Butterfly Weed
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As the name implies, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) attracts butterflies to the garden. “These drought-tolerant perennials produce clusters of orange, yellow, pink, or red star-shaped flowers from early July through August,” says Zondag. “Although butterfly weed prefers sandy soil, it will grow in almost any soil type, including clay.”
- Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the variety
- Size: 18 to 42 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, sandy to clay soils
Ornamental Grasses
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Ornamental grasses can fulfill various functions in the garden, depending on the type you plant. “Dwarf varieties provide varying colors and textures to flower beds and borders and make excellent companion plants,” says Zondag. “Standard varieties can be used as focal points or backdrops for flowering annuals and perennials.” Ornamental grasses tolerate clay soils, especially when amended with sand or compost.
- Zones: 3 to 10, depending on the variety
- Size: Depends on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, sandy to clay soils
Dogwood
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Shrub varieties of dogwood (Cornus) are planted for their brightly colored red or yellow stems that show off in the winter landscape. “Their spring blooms attract pollinators, and the distinctive veining pattern of their leaves provides additional interest,” says Zondag. “Often found on wetland edges, dogwoods can handle clay soil but do best when it’s amended with organic matter to improve drainage.”
- Zones: 3 to 8, depending on the variety
- Size: 3 to 9 feet tall x 3 to 12 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, rich, clay soils
Lilac
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Lilacs (Syringa) fill springtime gardens with beauty, showing off their panicles of fragrant blooms in white, lavender, blue, or pink hues. “They prefer neutral to alkaline soil and can handle clay types, provided it is well-draining,” says Zondag.
- Zones: 3 to 7, depending on the variety
- Size: 2 to 6 feet wide by 2 to 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, alkaline to clay soils
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