Top 10 Plants For Clay Soil

By David Salman, High Country Gardens Founder & Chief Horticulturist 

Clay can be one of the gardener's biggest challenges. Unless a plant is well-suited for clay conditions, it likely won’t do well. Read on to learn which plants grow well in clay, and some of the techniques for amending clay soil for long term success.

Soil is actually made up of several components: clay, sand, and silt, as well as water, air, and organic matter. The proportions of clay, sand, and silt are what determine how well your soil supports the things that are growing, how much moisture it holds, and how well it drains. 

Clay is very finely textured with extremely small individual particles that form a highly water-absorbent, poorly drained soil. Clay soils are nutrient-rich, but their density can make root growth difficult. Clay soil becomes brick-like when it gets dry becoming very hard and brittle and resistant to re-wetting. Wow, what's a plant to do?

1. Amend clay soil at planting time with high quality organic compost, Yum Yum Mix, and Soil Mender Worm Castings to improve texture and the availability of water and oxygen.
2. Top-dress in fall with Yum Yum Mix and organic matter, such as leaves or grass clippings, to feed the soil for a healthier and more workable garden.
3. Mineral aerators like coarse perlite (readily available at indoor grow shops), small size volcanic scoria (if locally available), and expanded shale can be mixed to the soil to a depth of about 1 foot deep along with the soil amendments listed above.
4. The soil can also be "bermed,” building mounds to plant onto or lifted into terraced and raised beds.
5. Choose clay-loving plants. Choosing these adaptable plants means less work amending soil for a garden that will grow and thrive more easily. If a plant doesn't have the constitution to deal with this sticky soil, then no amount of amendments will bring long-term success.

Below is a list of David Salman's top recommendations for planting clay soil. Remember, when browsing our site, use our Soil Type shopping filters to find plants that are suited to clay soil.

1. Maximilian's Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliana) — 'Santa Fe' and 'Dakota Sunshine' 
2. Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
3. 'Thin Man' Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
4. 'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
5. Yellow Yarrow (Achillea fillipendulina) — 'Coronation Gold' and 'Moonshine'
6. European Sage (Salvia nemerosa) — 'Blue Hill', 'May Night' and 'Caradonna'
7. Orange Butterfly Weed - Clay Form (Ascelpias tuberosa)
8. Pink Cotton Lamb's Ear (Stachys lavandulifolius)
9. Catmint (Nepeta faassenii) — 'Select Blue' and 'Walker's Low'
10. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia) — 'Fire Dance' and 'Pfitzer's Hybrid'

Learn more about preparing your soil for success:  Soil Preparation: Building Your Soil Health Naturally & Organically

Not sure what kind of soil you have? See our guide: The Dirt On Garden Soil Testing

by High Country Gardens

Dealing With a Sticky Situation

Clay can be one of the gardener's biggest challenges. Unless a plant is well-suited for clay conditions, it likely won’t do well. There are many ways to try and deal with clay soils. And some techniques can improve drainage and aeration and increase transplanting survival and long term success.

What Is Clay Soil and What To Do With It?

Clay is very fine textured with extremely small individual particles that form a highly water absorbent, poorly drained soil. Clay also becomes brick-like when it gets dry becoming very hard and brittle and resistant to re-wetting. Wow, what's a plant to do? Amending clay at planting time with high quality compost, Yum Yum Mix, earthworm castings and granular molasses will help to "fluff up" the soil and improve both water penetration and the oxygen supply to the roots (aeration).

I also recommend adding earth worms like red wigglers to speed up the soil's conversion. Regular "feeding" of the clay in fall by top dressing with organic matter and Yum Yum Mix Winterizer will help to keep the clay softer and more permeable up via the action of the soil's active flora and fauna.

Adding Mineral Aerators

Mineral aerators like coarse perlite (readily available at indoor grow shops) and small size volcanic scoria (if locally available) and expanded shale can be mixed to the soil to a depth of about 1 foot deep along with the soil amendments listed above. The soil can also be "bermed,” building mounds to plant onto or lifted into terraced and raised beds. But the bottom line is that if a plant doesn't have the constitution to deal with this Jekyll and Hyde soil, then no amount of amendments will bring long-term success. Below are my top ten picks for plants that will do well in clay soil.

Top Ten Plants for Clay Soil

1. Maximilian's Sunflower 'Santa Fe' (Helianthus maximiliana) and 'Dakota Sunshine'
2. Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
3. 'Llano' Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans 'Llano')
4. 'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition')
5. Yellow Yarrow (Achillea fillipendulina) — 'Coronation Gold' and 'Moonshine'
6. European Sage (Salvia nemerosa) — 'Blue Hill', 'May Night', and 'Caradonna'
7. Clay-Orange Butterfly Weed (Ascelpias tuberosa)
8. Cotton candy Lamb's Ear (Stachys lavandulifolius
9. Catmint (Nepeta faasseni) — 'Select Blue' and Walker's Low'
10. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria) — 'Pfitzer's Hybrid', 'Fire Dance', and 'Tiffindell Cold Hardy'

Text by David Salman.

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