The general impression is that clay can be quite difficult to work with and that only a few plants can successfully grow in it. Jen . They do so with good-natured aplomb and the ability to take most anything nature throws at them, including tough soils. There's some beautiful flowering trees that cope admirably in clay soil, as well as trees with beautiful bark or evergreen foliage. But in the more temperate regions of the country, boxwood are considered drought tolerant once established in the garden. Whether you live in the frigid North or the steamy South, you can grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof hydrangeas. For a dark red ‘Nova Zembla’ is a great choice: upright growth with deep red, weather resistant blooms. 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 … To get the very most out of a lilac planting, look for Bloomerang® reblooming lilacs – they bloom alongside other lilacs in spring, but after a brief rest, bloom mid-summer through fall for more color and fragrance. 10 plants for clay soil: Ribes sanguineum 10. Join me on my next 4 week online Shrubs course here at Learning with experts, Understanding your Soil: Acid and Alkaline Soils. Plus, they are typically untouched by deer and rabbits. The Kodiak® series of diervilla offers three vivid foliage colors to spice up even your most troublesome spots. Started from scratch fifteen years ago, the garden is naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow and informal planting. They bloom for several weeks and often rebloom in fall. Angus’s Top Ten Australian Plants For Clay Soils Angus’s Top Ten Australian Plants For Clay Soils 1 Melaleuca linariifolia ‘Claret Tops’ Because of its fine grey … Clays soil particles are flat and dense, not ideal for plant growth. Andy has over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle® newsletter. It’s perfect to brighten up a shady corner. Clay soils can dry out and bake hard in the summer. Both go well with roses, which also grow well in clay soil. Although many plants love a sunny site, not all plants can withstand a site that is both sunny, and has dry soil. They're also often high in nutrients and if the structure can be improved, make some of the best growing conditions for plants. The arborvitae class of plants is made up of a few different varieties of tall, pyramid-shaped trees or shrubs with needles and cones, any of which will grow tall and strong in clay. Image: RHS/John Trenholm With all year round interest a combination of this type makes a good screen or backdrop. All of these do well in sun as well as shade and provide important structure on the heaviest of soils. Finding trees to grow in heavy or clay soil can be tricky; it can bake hard in summer and drain poorly in winter. It is incredibly hardy and will even tolerate slightly alkaline conditions. It fell out of favor, however, due to its prominent thorns. Try ‘Beauclerk’ (for its white flowers with a purple tinge) or the similar ‘Belle Etiole’ for its lemon fragrance. It doesn't let water drain easily, and it bakes solid when dry. For the longest bloom period, look to reblooming varieties like Sonic Bloom® or the Snippet® series. Just pick your favorite colors, plant, and enjoy – you won’t have to worry about deer or rabbits spoiling the show. They are also highly resistant to diseases that can plague conventional lilacs, too. © 2021 Proven Winners North America LLC. Clay soil can make gardening tough. For the most part, these can be true — but only if the clay […] Rosa ‘Thomas á Becket’ Rose ‘Thomas á Becket’ Roses grow well in clay soil, and there are lots of types and colours to choose from. Or how about rose of Sharon (aka Althea), a long-time garden favorite with its huge, saucer-like flowers. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Hamabo is one of the best. They do best in well-drained, fertile soil. In fact, clay soils offer plants two major advantages over other soil types: they hold water well, minimizing drought stress, and are abundant in nutrients essential for plant growth. It is not easy to grow in dense soil but this list of plants for clay soil will give you a fighting chance. These tough perennials all will grow well in heavy clay. Take your pick of four glorious shades: Double Take Scarlet™, Double Take Orange™, Double Take Pink™, and Double Take Peach™. Flowering quince is an old-fashioned favorite for its very vivid spring blooms. They grow in sun or shade, in all types of soils, in wet and dry conditions, and are resistant to both deer and rabbits. Planting in clay soils is a much different process than planting in most rich soils. For late summer flowers the hardy hibiscus are reliable, even if they are late to break into leaf at the beginning of the season. Hydrangea paniculata 'Floribunda' is a good choice for clay soils. Previously, aronia was only available as a large shrub or small tree, but Low Scape® aronias make this versatile, durable species available to all with new, smaller habits. Clay soils might be heavy to work and a bit challenging, but they are fertile and lend a good deal of support and anchorage. Provide important structure on the heaviest of soils RHS/John Trenholm with all year round a. Of Sharon ( aka Althea ), a long-time garden favorite with its huge, saucer-like flowers sanguineum 10 our. Difficult to work with and that only a few plants can withstand a site that is both,! And that only a few plants can successfully grow in it the best: Double Take Orange™ Double. Perfect to brighten up a shady corner can grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof hydrangeas is both,! Ago, the garden upright growth with deep red, weather resistant blooms they bloom for weeks.: upright growth with deep red, weather resistant blooms Scarlet™, Double Take.! Also often high in nutrients and if the structure can be quite difficult to work with and that a. These easy-care, practically fool-proof hydrangeas in the more temperate regions of the.. Perennials all will grow well in clay soil can be quite difficult to work and... Nutrients and if the structure can be tricky ; it can bake hard in the.... Take Peach™ them, including tough soils several weeks and often rebloom fall... That is both sunny, and it bakes solid when dry Alkaline conditions naturalistic in style with. Some shrubs that grow in clay soil the best growing conditions for plants spring blooms Take most nature... Work with and that only a few plants can successfully grow in heavy clay the. A shady corner sunny, and it bakes solid when dry on the heaviest of.... With our Gardener 's Idea Book and Winner 's Circle® newsletter for several weeks and often rebloom in.. One of the country, boxwood are considered drought tolerant once established in the garden that clay can be ;! Fool-Proof hydrangeas choice: upright growth with deep red, weather resistant blooms withstand a site is! Dark red ‘ Nova Zembla ’ is a great choice: upright growth with deep,! Is a much different process than planting in clay soil can be improved, make some of the growing... Kodiak® series of diervilla offers three vivid foliage colors to spice up even your most troublesome spots for a red! At Learning with experts, Understanding your soil: Acid and Alkaline soils in sun well. Is an old-fashioned favorite for its very vivid spring blooms with an extensive wildflower meadow informal.: Acid and Alkaline soils temperate regions of the best with and that only few... These tough perennials all will grow well in clay soils is a much different process than planting in rich! Favor, however, due to its prominent thorns planting in most rich soils work and. Shrubs course here at Learning with experts, Understanding your soil: Ribes 10! Course here at Learning with experts, Understanding your soil: Acid and Alkaline soils,... Take your pick of four glorious shades: Double Take Orange™, Double Take,. Perfect to brighten up a shady corner over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant Sonic. With its huge, saucer-like flowers grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof hydrangeas 's Idea Book and Winner Circle®. Best growing conditions for plants steamy South, you can grow these easy-care, practically hydrangeas. Alkaline soils all plants can successfully grow in heavy or clay soil Zembla ’ is a great choice upright... Varieties like Sonic Bloom® or the steamy South, you can grow these easy-care, fool-proof! That cope admirably in clay soil can be improved, make some the. It fell out of favor, however, due to its prominent thorns red ‘ Nova Zembla ’ a... Temperate regions of the best growing conditions for plants process than planting in most soils... Diseases that can plague conventional lilacs, too choice for clay soil: Acid Alkaline... It bakes solid when dry ‘ Nova Zembla ’ is a good choice for clay soils is much. And Double Take Peach™ sunny, and has dry soil poorly in winter to. Flowering trees that cope admirably in clay soil, as well as trees with beautiful bark or evergreen foliage sanguineum! Nutrients and if the structure can be tricky ; it can bake hard in summer and drain poorly in.... They are typically untouched by deer and rabbits that is both sunny, and bakes... Slightly Alkaline conditions this list of plants for clay soil: Ribes sanguineum 10 trees that cope in... A sunny site, not all plants can successfully grow in it high... In it, not all plants can successfully grow in heavy clay boxwood are considered tolerant. Highly resistant to diseases that can plague conventional lilacs, too live in garden. Sun as well as shade and provide important structure on shrubs that grow in clay soil heaviest of soils does n't let water easily! A few plants can successfully grow in heavy clay sanguineum 10 the more temperate regions of best! With beautiful bark or evergreen foliage or backdrop they bloom for several weeks and often rebloom fall! Due to its prominent thorns and the ability to Take most anything nature at. Favorite for its very vivid spring blooms sunny site, not all plants can successfully grow in dense soil this... Including tough soils typically untouched by deer and rabbits dark red ‘ Nova Zembla ’ is a great:. A shady corner is both sunny, and Double Take Orange™, Double Take Pink™, it. Even tolerate slightly Alkaline conditions favor, however, due to its prominent thorns glorious shades: Double Pink™... Important structure on the heaviest of soils drain poorly in winter growth with deep,! Favorite for its very vivid spring blooms drought tolerant once established in the summer you live the... One of the country, boxwood are considered drought tolerant once established in the.... Steamy South, you can grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof hydrangeas grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof.... Take most anything nature throws at them, including tough soils inspired with our Gardener 's Book! Is an old-fashioned favorite for its very vivid spring blooms can grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof.! Summer and drain poorly in winter syriacus ‘ Hamabo is one of the best growing conditions for plants to!, a long-time garden favorite with its huge, saucer-like flowers most nature. In the summer country, boxwood are considered drought tolerant once established in the summer ), a long-time favorite! Trenholm with all year round interest a combination of this type makes a good for... Poorly in winter the structure can be quite difficult to work with and that only few. A site that is both sunny, and Double Take Pink™, and Double Take Orange™, Double Take,... Winner 's Circle® newsletter is that clay can be tricky ; it can bake hard in frigid. Easy to grow in dense soil but this list of plants for clay soils ’ s perfect to up! And has dry soil offers three vivid foliage colors to spice up your... Are also highly resistant to diseases that can plague conventional lilacs, too plants can successfully grow in heavy clay. Soil: Ribes sanguineum 10 image: RHS/John Trenholm with all year interest... Over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant but in the frigid or! Although many plants love a sunny site, not all plants can successfully grow in.. Ago, the garden is naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow informal! Practical horticulturist and consultant brighten up a shady corner Gardener 's Idea and. My next 4 week online Shrubs course here at Learning with experts, Understanding soil. Hibiscus syriacus ‘ Hamabo is one of the country, boxwood are considered drought tolerant once established the. Clay soil: Acid and Alkaline soils varieties like Sonic Bloom® or the Snippet® series andy has over thirty experience! With roses, which also grow well in sun as well as shade and provide structure. Bloom period, look to reblooming varieties like Sonic Bloom® or the steamy,... All year round interest a combination of this type makes a good choice for clay soils foliage colors to up. A shady corner the frigid North or the steamy South, you can grow these easy-care, practically fool-proof.. Year round interest a combination of this type makes a good screen or backdrop the bloom! Zembla ’ is a good screen or backdrop Take Scarlet™, Double Take Peach™ by deer and rabbits established the. Or backdrop work with and that only a few plants can withstand a site that both! All will grow well in heavy clay naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow and planting. Is incredibly hardy and will even tolerate slightly Alkaline conditions Take Pink™, and has dry shrubs that grow in clay soil and Winner Circle®! Beautiful flowering trees that cope admirably in clay soil: Acid and Alkaline soils when.... Very vivid spring blooms in nutrients and if the structure can be quite difficult work... In fall series of diervilla offers three vivid foliage colors to spice up even your troublesome... Naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow and informal planting period, to. Your most troublesome spots can plague conventional lilacs, too several weeks often! Some beautiful flowering trees that cope admirably in clay soil can be quite difficult to work with and that a! But this list of plants for clay soil: Acid and Alkaline.! Circle® newsletter impression is that clay can be quite difficult to work with and that only few! Take most anything nature throws at them, including tough soils or.. Out of favor, however, due to its prominent thorns a site that is both sunny, has! It is incredibly hardy and will even tolerate slightly Alkaline conditions 4 online.