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.

It may surprise you, but clay soil can be very fertile because its tiny particles hold water and nutrients that help many plants grow [1].

Plants That Grow in Clay Soil

Vegetables

Clay soil can be harder to work with than other soil types. However, some vegetables do very well in this soil type.

These are some vegetables that grow well in clay soil.

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

Remember that vegetables like pumpkins grow best in moist, not soggy, soil. Make sure your clay soil drains well so water does not sit around the roots.

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

Herbs

Don’t worry if you have clay soil. There are still plenty of herbs you can grow.

Check out this list of 14 herbs that grow well in clay soil.

• Wormwood
• Mint
• Thyme
• Sage
• Dill
• Lemon balm
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Lovage
• Fennel
• Hyssop
• Chives
• Saint John’s Wort
• Valerian

Some herbs, such as thyme, grow best in clay soil that has been improved with compost to increase drainage.

Flowers

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

Many beautiful flowers grow well in clay soil. 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
• Coreopsis
• Joe-Pye weed
• Helenium
• Phlox
• Balloon Flowers
• Coral Bells
• Foxglove
• Goldenrod
• Perennial Sunflowers

Some plants, such as butterfly bush, can tolerate clay soil if it drains well.

Trees and Shrubs

Here are some shrubs and trees that tolerate heavy clay soil.

• Birch
• Alder
• Crab Apple
• Hawthorn
• Laburnum
• Tamarack
• Snowberry
• Holly
• Willow
• Japanese 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 can grow well in clay soil that has good drainage. These beautiful perennials do well in clay soil and will come back year after year.

What about Hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas grow best in rich, well-drained soil. If you have clay soil, mix in plenty of compost before planting to improve drainage.

Issues With This Soil Type

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

One of the biggest challenges with clay soil is that it tends to become 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

Mix plenty of organic matter into the top few inches of soil. 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

Garden lime may help some acidic clay soils by making the tiny clay particles stick together better. Always test your soil before adding lime, because not all clay soils need it.

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

Gypsum can improve some clay soils, especially those with too much sodium.

It also adds calcium and sulfur without making the soil more acidic or more alkaline. However, adding compost is usually the best way to improve heavy clay soil.

Gypsum adds calcium to the soil. In some cases, improving calcium availability may help reduce blossom-end rot in crops like tomatoes and peppers.

See also 71 plants for sandy soil.

Takeaway

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

Clay soil holds water longer than sandy soil, which means plants often need watering less often in normal conditions. With the right plants and good care, a clay garden can grow healthy flowers, vegetables, herbs, and trees.