65 Plants You Can Grow in Clay Soil

If your soil is sticky when wet or cracks when it’s dry, chances are you have clay soil. But don’t worry; plenty of plants will thrive in this type of soil.

However odd it may sound, clay is one of the best soil types for your garden. Its particles are smaller than those in sand, silt, or loam [1]. This unique quality makes it great for plant growth.

Overall, clay soil is great for certain plants because of its water-holding capacity and ability to hold onto nutrients. With proper care, you don’t need to use as much irrigation or fertilizer.

Vegetables That Grow Well in Clay Soil

Clay soil can be a challenge to garden with. However, some vegetables do very well in this soil type.

These 14 veggies are among the best crops for clay soil.

Broccoli
Potato
Lettuce
Brussels sprouts
Chard
Squash
Cabbage
Kale
Beans
Carrots
Peas (snap and cowpeas)
Daikon Radish
Pumpkin
Cauliflower

However, please remember that some vegetables, like pumpkins, don’t like too much moisture. So, make sure your soil drains well.

Additionally, some veggies like full sun, while others grow best in the shade. So be mindful of this when organizing your garden.

Herbs for Clay Soil

No worries if you want to add some herbs to your garden but have clay soil! There are still plenty of options for you. Check out this list of 14 herbs that grow well in clay soil.

Wormwood
Mint
Yarrow
Sage
Dill
Lemon balm
Parsley
Lavender
Calendula
Fennel
Hyssop
Chives
Saint John’s Wort
Valerian

Flowers That Grow in Clay Soil

If you’re worried that this type of soil will prevent you from having a beautiful flower garden, don’t be!

Clay soil is excellent for growing a variety of beautiful flowers. Check out our list of 21 flowers that will thrive in this soil type, including some tropical and bee-friendly flowers.

Hosta
Roses
Bee Balm
Butterfly Bush
Daylily
Aster
Coneflower
Iris
Black-Eyed Susans
Chinese Lantern
Cup Plant
Sedum
Elder
Joe-Pye weed
Helenium
Phlox
Balloon Flowers
Coral Bells
Foxglove
Goldenrod
Perennial Sunflowers

Trees and Shrubs

Here are the 16 best shrubs and trees that tolerate hard clay soil.

Birch
Alder
Crab Apple
Hawthorn
Laburnum
Tamarack
Snowberry
Holly
Willow
Japanese Red Maple
Hornbeam
Elm
Common Lilac
Buttonbush
Nannyberry
Cotoneasters

The Best Perennials for Clay Soil

Goldenrod, asters, bee balm, Russian sage, daylily, purple coneflower, and yarrow are all suitable for clay soil. These beautiful plants do well in clay soil and will keep coming back year after year.

What about Hydrangeas?

The best soil for your hydrangea drains well and is loamy and fertile. If you’ve got clay soil, though, no worries. You can still supply your plants with what they need by amending the soil with compost or other organic materials.

Issues With This Soil Type

Clay soil may not be ideal for many gardeners, but some plants still thrive in it.

The worst thing about clay is that it gets waterlogged due to poor drainage. This can be a problem for some plants, limiting oxygen to their roots and hindering growth.

This soil type is also slow to warm up in the spring, compacts easily, and is heavy to dig, but it still works well for some plants.

Improving Heavy Clay Soil

You can improve most clay soils with time and effort. However, the most important issue to tackle is bad drainage, especially when standing water is present.

Organic Matter

Get your hands dirty and turn that soil over, incorporating lots of organic matter. Doing so will significantly improve the quality of this soil type.

Coarse grit, compost, manure, and leaf mold are all great options for getting started. Spread two to three inches of any of these materials and fork them into your garden bed.

Garden Lime

You can also improve this soil type with some calcium. This will help the clay particles form clumps and improve drainage.

However, note that this technique works best on acidic soils. If you’re not sure of your soil’s pH level, pick up a testing kit from your local garden store or get one online.

Read more about how to use garden lime for your plants.

Gypsum

Who knew that gypsum could do so much for your lawn and garden? Not only does it improve soil structure and relieve compaction, but it also adds essential nutrients like calcium and sulfur. And unlike lime, it doesn’t affect your soil’s pH.

Moreover, add some gypsum to your garden to keep veggies such as tomatoes and bell peppers healthy and free from blossom-end rot. This will help ensure they get enough calcium to prevent this disorder.

See also 71 plants for sandy soil.