If you have a garden made up primarily of clay soil it has many benefits, but not every plant will appreciate its conditions. This soil type contains microscopic clay particles that bind together to form solid clumps that can become compacted.
Clay is great for holding onto water and nutrients, but its poor drainage qualities mean that it can suffer from waterlogging during rain and conversely, in hot weather, the surface can harden and crack.
We've listed choices for which will love a clay garden landscaping environment, with choices for sun, shade, and partial shade. As well as some hardworking low-maintenance choices which will give months of interest across multiple seasons.
10 top plant picks for clay soils
Plants that will perform well in clay will be those that appreciate heavy soils and moisture. Some may benefit from soil being enriched with organic matter.
Don't expect plants which rely on excellent drainage to survive in clay soils. Plants for gravel gardens like more or less the opposite qualities from their soil to clay plants.
1. Climbing Hydrangea
Hydrangeas and climbing hydrangeas are fantastic garden plants that are great plants for shade as well as clay.
"Climbing hydrangeas are particularly well suited to clay soils, but the need to be planted in partial shade, and kept moist all year round for them to thrive," says Andrew White, a gardening expert at Rhino Greenhouses Direct.
"This climbing fence plant is perfect if you’re looking to cover large areas of vertical space in your garden, for instance, fences, trees or walls. Once established, climbing hydrangeas are known for being vigorous climbers, and will require regular pruning in the summer after they have flowered."
Andrew White is Rhino Greenhouses Direct's resident gardening enthusiast with over 8 years' experience in gardening related topics.
2. Hosta
Though highly susceptible to slug attacks, you'll need to take measures to get rid of slugs if you want to grow hostas. That being said they are otherwise reliable plants for shade and clay.
"Best suited to partial or full shade, Hostas are renowned for producing extremely distinctive foliage in various colours. Hostas are more than capable of growing well in clay soils, but they do require soil that is moist and rich in organic matter to help with establishing the plant," says Andrew White.
"You should look to plant Hostas in spring or autumn for best results, with a view to tidying up any dead foliage in late autumn once they are established."
Shop plants for clay soils
Plant these bulbs in clay soils at 10cm deep. Add a layer of bark mulch once they're planted.
This showy compact variety will bloom from summer all the way to the first frosts of winter.
This pink frilly-edged variety will flower from July - December. It will benefit from a spot in partial sun.
3. Camassia
"If you’re looking for a bulb that is best suited to clay soils, you won’t go far wrong with Camassia. Perfectly capable of holding its own as a plant for sun, or in partially shaded areas, this plant will usually start to emerge toward the end of spring, which makes it a popular flower to fill the void between spring and summer perennials," says Andrew White.
Low-maintenance garden lovers will love the relaxed nature of camassia plants which grow best when they're undisturbed.
4. Geranium
These are a personal favourite plant of mine as they will reliably flower for months on end. Geranium Rozanne is my go-to variety in my own garden as it gives ultraviolet blooms from June to October. It was also voted RHS Plant of the Century back in 2013. It's particularly useful for adding colour to bare ground beneath deciduous shrubs.
These plants typically prefer a sunny position or partial shade and can be used in flowerbeds, borders or as ground cover.
5. Fuchsia
A great choice for full sun or partial shade that will like the moistness of clay soil. The pendulous flowers come in a variety colours but is best known for its pink or "fuchsia" shade.
Although they do like sunny spots, they prefer a little respite during the hottest part of the day as well as protection from cold north winds.
Some are hardy enough to grow and flower outdoors in all but the coldest regions of the UK, delivering a long season of late summer colour, and others are more tender and in need of frost protection.
6. Rose
There are so many rose breeds and hybrids on the market that it's possible to find one to suit almost every garden situation. That being said most rose types will adore the richness of clay soil.
The experts at David Austin Roses advise planting roses approximately 60cm apart to reduce the risk of fungal diseases developing. It's also worth bearing in mind that you should avoid planting your rose in a windy spot as strong winds can lead to your rose growing at an angle, which can damage its longterm health. Instead, ensure it's in a relatively sunny, protected spot.
Deadheading your roses throughout summer will also ensure you get repeat blooms throughout the growing season.
7. Laurustinus
Laurustinus – also known as Viburnum tinus – is a striking evergreen shrub that can be grown as a hedge or stand-alone specimen. It adapts well to heavy clay and thrives in moist soil.
The flowers start as pink buds that are often scented, they grow in clusters which open into delicate white flowers at the end of winter. So it's ideal for giving late-season interest.
8. Dogwood
This deciduous shrub is a well-known hero of the winter garden. Whilst some may have pretty flowers in summer, the striking time is when their bold red and orange stems set the cold season on fire.
For the most impact, plant your dogwood in groups of three or five, in an open, sunny position. Once fully grown, most dogwoods will form a thicket around 1.5m high and wide, so it's important to allow them plenty of space to grow.
9. Cotoneaster
Following on from the winter theme we have cotoneaster. These are hardy, resilient plants that can tolerate some shade, although you will find that they do flower and fruit best when planted in a spot in the sun.
There's wide range to choose from too, whether you prefer ground-hugging varieties or ones that are more like large, tree-like shrubs. Some varieties can be trained as wall shrubs while others make good fast-growing hedge plants too.
Another added bonus of these plants? They are fantastic for attracting wildlife. The spring flowers are ideal for pollinating insects and then in winter the berries provide essential food for birds.
10. Butterfly bush
Flowering for up to six weeks in the summer, these colourful plants will attract a whole range of pollinators to your garden. They love to be planted in a sunny spot but avoid very windy locations.
Garden writer Graham Rice advises that butterfly bushes need at least six hours of sun each day. He warns that if you plant them under trees they won't grow particularly well and are likely to end up thin and spindly with little flowers. He also advises to amend the soil with garden compost or bagged planting mix before planting your butterfly bush in the garden.
FAQs
Which plants thrive in clay soil?
Jane Dobbs, gardening expert at Allan's Gardeners lists her top plants for clay soils below:
- The maple tree is a deciduous tree with vibrant autumn foliage. It needs little pruning and thrives in clay soil that drains well.
- Trees like oaks provide plenty of shade and have deep roots, which makes them perfect for stabilising clay soil.
- Hydrangeas have big, showy flower clusters and thrive in moist, well-drained clay soil.
- Rhododendrons are evergreen shrubs with spectacular blooms, which prefer acidic clay soils and partial shade.
- The daylily thrives in clay soil and is a hardy plant with vibrant flowers.
- The foliage on Hostas is large and attractive, and they prefer moist, well-drained clay soil in shade.
- Peonies have large, fragrant blooms and thrive well in rich, clay soil.
- Groundcover Creeping Jenny thrives in moist clay soil and has bright foliage.
Responsible for leading the gardening team at Allan's Gardeners, a landscaping and garden maintenance, business. She has 10 years experience as a gardener.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.
