65 Plants You Can Grow in Clay Soil

If your soil is sticky when wet or cracks when dry, you likely 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 ideal for certain plants due to its water-holding capacity and nutrient retention. With proper care, you don’t need to use as much irrigation or fertilizer.

Plants That Grow in Clay Soil

Vegetables

Clay soil can be challenging to garden in. 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 prefer full sun, while others grow best in the shade. So be mindful of this when organizing your garden.

Herbs

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

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 is well-draining, 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 2 to 3 inches of any of these materials, then 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 like tomatoes and bell peppers healthy and free of blossom-end rot. This will help ensure they get enough calcium to prevent this disorder.

See also 71 plants for sandy soil.

Takeaway

Clay isn’t just for mud pies. Many plants do very well in it. Sure, it can be dense and heavy, but it’s also incredibly fertile.

Clay also holds water well, so your plants will never suffer from drought. If you choose the right plants, they’ll thrive in clay soil.