Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
safe soil is the foundation of healthy plant . There are several unlike grease types , including sandy , loam , stiff , or silt up . Some soils are better for industrial plant than others , with most aboriginal soils needing some sort of rectify . It ’s crucial to know which kind of filth type you have , and if you take to amend it before adding plant to your yard .
Clay is one of the most challenging soils to deal out with . It is qualify by a heavy , steamy consistency when blotto , becoming hard and slow when dry . This can restrict the flow and uptake of water and nutrients for plant , impede root growth , and have water to pool , which can cause root rot and other diseases . remediate clay grease with compost or other rich organic subject improve soil consistency and drainage , while providing all important nutrients to plant . Also remember , that organic matter does break down over sentence , so plant slightly gamy to allow for this .
Some plant are more adaptable to remains grunge than others , while there are plants that prosper in stiff soil . Here are some of the good clay soil plants .
Learn more : Clay Soil : What It Is and When You Should remediate It .
North Pole ® Arborvitae . exposure by : Proven Winners .
ARBORVITAE (Thujaspp.)
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Zones:2 - 9 , reckon on the varietyExposure : Full sunlight to partial shadeHabit : pyramidic or mound habitHeight / Spread:2 to 70 foot tall , 2 to 25 feet wideBloom time : blossom insignificant .
Arborvitae is a cone-bearing tree or shrub with racy - green , gold , or gullible leaf . This sturdy evergreen is commonly used as privacy hedging or in shrub borders . Arborvitae prefers well - run out , loamy soils , but is adaptable to dissimilar soils including cadaver .
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Grape Crush New England Aster . Photo by : Proven Winners .
ASTER (Symphyotrichumspp.)
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Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright spread habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet magniloquent , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Summer to diminish
This gloaming - blooming perennial produces daisy - like flowers in shade of white , pink , blue , and purple . Use in mixed borders or native garden . Asters can grow in clay grime if repair with organic matter . piteous drain can lead to root rot .
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' Pardon My Cerise ' Bee Balm . Photo by : Proven Winners .
BEE BALM (Monardaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright circularize habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet marvellous , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : later spring to fall
This sturdy herbaceous perennial produces coloured flowers that resemble pyrotechnic , attracting a stove of pollinators . flora in a wildlife garden or cottage - style border . Bee balm is tolerant of heavy clay , but execute beneficial in rich filth with full drain . Amend clay land with organic matter .
Find more ongrowing bee balm .
Mega Millions ® Black - eyed Susan . picture by : Proven Winners .
BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckiaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright circularise habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet tall , 1 to 3 foot wideBloom time : Summer to fall
This summer - bloom perennial produces vivacious daisy - like flowers with rich prosperous flower petal and brown centers . arise black - eyed Susans in cottage - vogue borders and natural landscape . This tough prairie native is tolerant of unlike growing condition , let in clay ground .
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Kobold Gayfeather . exposure by : Proven Winners .
BLAZING STAR (Liatrisspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet magniloquent , 6 inches to 2 feet wideBloom time : Summer to fall
blaze principal is a prairie native with tall flush spikes in hue of pink , majestic , and bloodless . This hardy perennial is one of the best plants for attracting pollinators , and is resistant of dissimilar soils , including clay . Fertile stain may make plants to flop .
Find more ongrowing blazing star .
Low Scape Mound ® Aronia . picture by : Proven Winners .
CHOKEBERRY (Aroniaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Sunday to partial shadeHabit : Bushy habitHeight / Spread:8 inch to 12 feet grandiloquent , 1 - 1/2 to 10 animal foot wideBloom time : saltation
Chokeberry produces comestible blueberry bush - like fruits with a ambit of health benefits . This deciduous shrub does best in moist , well - draining land , and is patient of of different soils include sand and corpse . Naturalize in a boggy area , or plant in a rainwater garden .
Find more ongrowing chokeberry .
Lollipop ® crabapple . pic by : Proven Winners .
CRABAPPLE (Malusspp.)
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Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , spreading , crying or columnar habitHeight / Spread:15 to 20 feet tall , 12 to 20 feet wide . nanus varieties are smaller . Bloom time : Mid to late spring
Crabapple is a vulgar landscape Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , with showy spring blossom and small fruits that provide ornamental stake in winter . Plants are adaptable to most land , let in clay , as long as there is good drainage . Use as a focal point or street tree .
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Summersong ™ Firefinch ™ Coneflower . Photo by : Proven Winners .
CONEFLOWER (Echinaceaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 foot tall , 1 to 2 fundament wideBloom clock time : summertime
This democratic prairie aborigine is named for the strobile - influence flowers that bloom in summer . Use in a wildflower meadow or pollinator garden . One of the best clay grunge perennials , coneflower is resistant of heat , drought , and humidity .
Find more ongrowing coneflower .
exposure by : Janet Loughrey .
CRANESBILL GERANIUM (Geraniumspp.)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full Sunday to partial shadeHabit : upright piano or mounding habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 column inch tall , 12 to 36 inches wideBloom time : leaping to shine , depending on the variety
A staple fibre of English - dash gardening , cranesbill geranium is ordinarily used as an underplanting to rose , or as a ground masking . plant produce attractive scollop foliage and long blooming strawberry - corresponding flowers . This hardy perennial is one of the best flowers for Lucius Clay soil .
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Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' daylily . Photo by : Proven Winners
DAYLILY (Hemerocallisspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet marvelous , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Late spring to fall
This popular long - lived perennial has trump - influence flowers in a mountain chain of color . Plant in mixed borders or cottage - style landscape . Daylily is virtually carefree and adaptable to different soils . Amend clay soil with organic thing and keep soil evenly moist .
Find more ongrowing daylily .
Arctic Sun ® Dogwood . picture by : Proven Winners
DOGWOOD (Cornusspp.)
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Zones:2 - 9 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Tall upright or compact bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 40 human foot tall and wideBloom time : Spring
dogwood tree is a democratic deciduous tree or shrub with four - season appeal . Tree forms create a spectacular floral show in outflow , while shrub types are revere for their colorful wintertime stem . dogwood tree prefer amended territory with good drain , but tolerate clay and wet soil .
Find more ongrowing dogwood .
Show Off ® Forsythia . Photo by : Proven victor
FORSYTHIA (Forsythiaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeHabit : Upright , shaggy-coated or arching habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 foot tall , 3 to 10 feet wideBloom time : early on to mid - spring
This deciduous bush is grow for the cheerful lustrous - yellow flowers that illuminate up the landscape painting in other natural spring . Use as hedge or in origination planting . Forsythia is one of the best clay soil plant life , adaptable to different growing conditions as long as there is good drainage .
Find more ongrowing forsythia .
Graceful Grasses ® Purple Fountain Grass . Photo by : Proven victor
FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetumspp.)
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Zones:5 - 11Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 ft tall , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom meter : Summer to come
outflow grass bring forth graceful foliage and magnanimous , feathery flower plume from summertime into decline . Use this drouth - kind perennial in a curbside planting or waterwise landscape . Amend clay grunge with organic topic to forestall theme guff . see spring grasses .
Shadowland ® ' Hudson Bay ' . Photo by : Proven Winners
HOSTA (Hostaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Part sun to shadeHabit : vertical clumping habitHeight / Spread:2 inches to 4 foot improbable , 5 in to 5 feet wide , bet on the varietyBloom time : Summer
Hosta is one of the good flora for specter and cadaver soil . This fearless perennial is develop for the attractive foliage in a stove of colors , shape , and shapes . Use in shadiness borders and mass plantings . Amend Lucius DuBignon Clay stain with constitutional issue , as poor drainage can lead to origin rot .
Find more ongrowing hosta .
Limelight Prime ® Panicle Hydrangea . Photo by : Proven winner
HYDRANGEA (Hydrangeaspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : fond sun to shadeHabit : Upright shaggy-coated or arching habitHeight / Spread:3 to 15 feet marvelous , 3 to 12 foot wideBloom time : Summer to fall down
One of the most popular landscape shrubs , hydrangea get enceinte , showy flower heads with dissimilar color and material body . Use in a woodland setting or bush perimeter . Hydrangea can be plant in clay dirt as long as it ’s amended with robust organic affair .
Find more ongrowing hydrangea .
photograph by : iPixela / Shutterstock .
MAGNOLIA (Magnoliaspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full Lord’s Day to partial shadeHabit : Upright unfold habitHeight / Spread:8 to 70 feet grandiloquent , 7 to 40 feet wideBloom sentence : leaping to summer , with some rebloom
Magnolia is one of the most pop landscape painting tree diagram , with elegant cupful - mould flowers that put on a show - hold back showing in spring and summer . This deciduous or evergreen tree is adaptable to dissimilar territory including clay , preferring acidic grunge with right drainage .
Find more ongrowing magnolia .
Cinderella swamp milkweed . pic by : Proven Winners
MILKWEED (Asclepiasspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 foot tall , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom clip : Summer
Milkweed is a host works for sovereign butterflies , with flowers that attract beneficial pollinators . Most milkweeds are tolerant of different stain , while swampland silkweed can thrive in sozzled clay . plant life in a pollinator garden or wildflower meadow .
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Happy Face ® White . Photo by : Proven winner
POTENTILLA (Potentillaspp.)
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Zones:2 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : shaggy or ground cover habitHeight / Spread:3 inches to 4 feet marvellous , 6 inch to 5 feet wideBloom meter : bound to fall
Potentilla is ordinarily used in home and commercial landscapes for its happy-go-lucky nature , farseeing bloom time , and surpassing lustiness . This shrub or ground covering fire is one of the just ground covers for clay grease . Use in aggregate plantings or along a slope for eating away controller .
Find more ongrowing genus Potentilla .
' Denim ' n Lace ' Russian Sage . pic by : Proven succeeder
RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskiaspp.)
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Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 feet tall and wideBloom meter : Early summertime to diminish
This woody perennial produces silver foliage and lavender - blue flower spikes for a show - block up effect in the summer landscape . Russian salvia prefers hot conditions and skimpy soil , and is liberal of clay as long as there is equal drainage . Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot .
Find more ongrowing Russian sage .
Rock ' N crushed ® ' Boogie Woogie ' Stonecrop . Photo by : Proven winner
SEDUM (Sedumspp.)
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Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright , mound or creeping habitHeight / Spread:3 to 36 inches grandiloquent , 12 to 24 inch wideBloom time : summertime to hang
Sedum is a succulent plant with bloom that add late time of year gloss to the landscape . Also experience as stonecrop , this carefree perennial tolerates lean and poor soil , including clay , as long as there is good drainage . apply in waterwise mete , or plant along a stone wall .
Find more ongrowing stonecrop .
bivalent flirt Doozie ® Spirea . Photo by : Proven success
SPIREA (Spiraeaspp.)
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Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : mound shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:2 to 8 fundament tall , 2 to 6 understructure wideBloom meter : Spring to summer
This versatile shrub is a favorite of home gardener for its colourful leaf and lacy flower clusters that appear in spring to summer . Spirea is useful in mixed borders or foundation plantings , and adapts well to Lucius Clay soil as long as there is well drainage . Amend Lucius Clay soil with constitutive matter to prevent stand piss , which can cause base rot .
Find more ongrowing spirea .
Prairie Winds ® ' Apache Rose ' Switchgrass . Photo by : Proven Winners
SWITCHGRASS (Panicum virgatum)
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Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical , arching or vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 foot improbable , 1 - 1/2 to 5 foundation wideBloom prison term : Mid to tardy summer
aboriginal to North American prairie , switchgrass is a fond - time of year ornamental grass with steely puritanic foliage and delicate cloud - like flower plume that add fine texture to miscellaneous borders and aboriginal landscapes . One of the few plant that get it on Lucius DuBignon Clay soil , switchgrass prefers lean soil and moist conditions .
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Blue Muffin ® Arrowwood Viburnum . exposure by : Proven winner
VIBURNUM (Viburnumspp.)
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Zones:2 - 11 , bet on the varietyExposure : Full sunlight to partial shadeHabit : vertical bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 20 feet tall , 3 to 12 feet wideBloom time : Spring to summer
This deciduous or evergreen plant shrub is grown for its prolific flower clump , colorful berries , and bright fall foliation that lends multi - seasonal prayer . Use in foundation planting or aboriginal borders . Viburnum is adaptable to a cooking stove of ground , including clay , as long as there is adequate drain .
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Red Wall ® Virginia crawler . Photo by : Proven Winners
VIRGINIA CREEPER (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Red Wall ®
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Vining habitHeight / Spread:30 to 50 foot grandiloquent , 5 to 10 foot wideBloom time : Late spring to summer
Virginia creeper is spot by the five - lobed leaves , showy profane fruit , and brilliant red fall color . This deciduous woody vine has a vigorous growth riding habit that is utile for quickly plow magnanimous garden structures . Virginia creeper is tolerant of different grow conditions , admit clay dirt .
Wine & Roses ® . pic by : Proven Winners
WEIGELA (Weigelaspp.)
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Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : vertical bushy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 understructure marvelous , 2 to 12 feet wideBloom prison term : Mid - to - tardy give , with some rebloom
This old - fashioned favourite shrub produces leaf in a ambit of color and fragrant cannular flowers in spring . plant are virtually harum-scarum once ground , bear a range of soils include remains as long as it run out well . Use in foundation plantings or shrub border .
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FAQs
What grows well in clay soil?
When deciding what to plant in clay grime , choose works that grow and adjust to dissimilar soils . plant life for clay soil include many prairie natives such as coneflower , liatris , and milkweed , which often rise natively in pitiable conditions .
How to fix clay soil for gardening?
When planting in clay soil , dig down 12 in cryptical , turn the soil , and break strong corpse into fine piece . sum compost or other ample organic matter , which will activate the territory and leave nutrients for clay soil plants . Add a layer of mulch annually to preserve improving the soil . ascertain more : Clay dirt : What It Is and When You Should meliorate It .
Is clay soil good for plants?
Georgia crimson clay and other ruddy clay soil are plentiful in nutrients , include Fe oxide , nitrogen , Lucifer , and potassium . For industrial plant that need more nutrients , this reduces the penury for fertilizing .
Do hydrangeas grow well in clay soil?
hydrangea prefer fertile , well - draining soil , but can also produce in clay dirt . Amend the planting area and allow for undecomposed drain to prevent remain firm water and stem rot . plant slightly high-pitched so that the cap of the works is a bit above ground level can also assist preclude root rot .
What is the best shrub for clay soil?
Shrubs that have a robust antecedent arrangement that can penetrate through clay grease are some of the honorable plants for the Great Compromiser . These include chokeberry , dogwood , spiraea , and viburnum .
