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Working with clay soil in your garden can be challenging due to its slow drainage and tendency to compact easily. However, rather than replacing it with store-bought alternatives, it’s more cost-effective to make the most of what you have. To help you achieve your dream garden, we’ve compiled a list of plants that experts recommend for clay soil.
Meet the Experts:
Kelly Funk – President and CEO of Jackson & Perkins
Richard Zondag – Horticulturist and owner of Jung Seed Company
Daylily
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are known for their vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in various colors. According to Kelly Funk, these plants produce multiple blooms per stem and are great for borders and mass plantings due to their clumping and spreading nature. Their thick, fibrous roots help them thrive in clay soils.
Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 1 to 3 ft tall by 1 to 3 ft wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained to heavy clay soils
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are beloved for their cheerful, daisy-like blooms with dark central cones. These native perennials or biennials are resilient in tough soils like clay, thanks to their deep taproots that penetrate compacted layers. They are drought-tolerant once established and can handle seasonal wetness.
Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 1 to 3 ft tall by 1 to 2 ft wide
Care requirements: Full sun; clay, sandy, and loamy soils
Coneflower
Coneflower (Echinacea) is a native perennial that blooms from midsummer to frost. Richard Zondag describes them as a garden staple with conical seed heads and daisy-like blooms that attract bees and butterflies. These plants are versatile, tolerating various soil types including clay, and are resistant to diseases, deer, heat, and drought.
Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 18 inches to 4 ft tall by 1 to 3 ft wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; clay, sandy, and loamy soils
Bee Balm
Bee balm (Monarda) is a clump-forming perennial that bears shaggy flowers in red, pink, purple, or white. Kelly Funk explains that its spreading root system allows it to thrive in compacted soils, while its preference for moisture makes it suitable for heavy clay. Additionally, its minty-scented foliage serves as a natural deterrent for deer and rabbits.
Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 2 to 4 ft tall by 1 to 2 ft wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, rich, clay soils
Hosta
Hostas (Hosta spp.) are shade-loving
Hostas are versatile plants that thrive in zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety. They typically grow to be 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. Hostas prefer partial to full shade and moist, rich clay soils. For a list of 20 hosta varieties with beautiful foliage and blooms, check out related resources.
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are known for their large, lush flowers that come in shades of pink, blue, white, or green. They are particularly tolerant of heavier clay soils, benefitting from added compost to improve drainage and aeration. Panicle hydrangeas grow in zones 4 to 9 and can reach heights of 3 to 8 feet with care requirements of partial shade to full sun and rich, well-drained clay soils.
Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a plant that produces bright red berries in winter, attracting birds to the garden. It thrives in wet, heavy clay soils and can adapt well to dense soils with its strong root system. Winterberry holly grows in zones 3 to 9, reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet with care needs of full sun to partial shade and moist to wet clay soils.
Certain salvia varieties, like Salvia nemorosa and Salvia pratensis, can withstand clay soils when amended with organic matter. These plants feature spikes of blue, purple, pink, or red flowers atop aromatic, gray-green foliage. Salvia is a favorite among pollinators with a long bloom period. They grow in zones 4 to 9, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet with care requirements of full sun and well-drained to clay soils.
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) are popular annuals known for their vibrant colors and prolific blooming until the first frost. They thrive in well-drained soil but can handle poor soils, including clay, due to their strong root systems. Zinnias are available in various shapes and sizes and grow in zones 2 to 11. They can reach heights of 6 inches to 4 feet with care needs of full sun and well-drained to clay soils.
Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are cheerful garden annuals with large blooms that come in various shades. They are tolerant of different soil types, including clay, and grow best in full sun with well-drained to clay soils. Sunflowers are available in zones 2 to 11, reaching heights of 8 inches to 10 feet.
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) attracts butterflies to the garden with its clusters of star-shaped flowers in orange, yellow, pink, or red hues. These drought-tolerant perennials grow well in almost any soil type, including clay, although they prefer sandy soil. Butterfly weed grows in zones 3 to 9, reaching heights
Ornamental grasses serve various purposes in the garden based on the type you choose to plant. According to Zondag, dwarf varieties add a mix of colors and textures to flower beds and borders and work well as companion plants. Standard varieties can be used as focal points or backgrounds for annuals and perennials. Ornamental grasses can thrive in clay soils with the addition of sand or compost for improvement.
Dogwood shrubs (Cornus) are known for their vibrant red or yellow stems that stand out in winter. Zondag notes that their spring blossoms attract pollinators, and the unique veining of their leaves adds visual interest. While dogwoods can tolerate clay soil, they thrive best when the soil is amended with organic matter for better drainage.
Lilacs (Syringa) bring beauty to spring gardens with their clusters of fragrant blooms in various colors. Zondag mentions that lilacs prefer neutral to alkaline soil and can tolerate clay soil as long as it is well-draining.
For more gardening tips, visit Martha Stewart’s original article.
