Clay soil is one of the most challenging soil conditions a gardener can face. It's wet and dense, and it can bake as solid as a brick in the sun. This soil type leaves little room for air and water movement for plants.
Choosing plants to grow in clay soil takes some discretion. Some plants tolerate clay soil and help break up and improve its texture and drainage. Although you'll still need to meet other growing requirements, including sun exposure and USDA hardiness zones, here are 25 plants that grow in clay soil. (Full sun plants are listed first.)
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01 of 25
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
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Big bluestem is a warm-season grass that loves arid growing conditions. It's used as an ornamental plant and is popular for erosion control. The plant is tolerant of most soils. In fertile, moist conditions, it experiences lots of growth; in less fertile, dry soil, it is less likely to flop.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Red-purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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02 of 25
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Black-eyed Susans are a staple in gardens because they are adaptable and low maintenance. They will bloom for months and live for years. The plant tolerates a range of soils as long as it has good drainage. It grows best in rich, moist soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Color Varieties: Yellow, orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
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03 of 25
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Blazing star plants have grassy foliage and spiky bottle-brush flowers that bloom over a long period. The flowers are very popular with monarch butterflies, which will spend hours feasting on the nectar. It prefers moist, fertile soil, though it doesn't tolerate wet soil well over the winter.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: Red-purple, white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Fertile, moist, well-draining
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04 of 25
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
This North American native perennial produces clusters of flowers in brilliant color combinations. It is very attractive to butterflies, as well as bees and hummingbirds. The plant's long taproot makes it very drought tolerant, and it does well in poor soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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05 of 25
Canadian Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Canadian wild rye is a clump-forming, cool-season grass with a gentle arching habit. It's easy to grow from seed and can adapt to various soils and conditions. The plant is even tolerant of drought and air pollution.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: Green
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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06 of 25
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Silphium plants are distinctive prairie plants that like the rich quality of clay soil. The plants hold their sunny golden flowers high above the foliage. Besides the compass plant, the shorter Silphium integrifolium (Rosinweed) also makes a good choice for clay soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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07 of 25
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
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It's called the cup plant because water collects in cups formed where the leaves meet the stems. This type of Silphium is extremely popular with birds and butterflies. It's very tolerant of clay and wet soil, and it can stand some drought once the plant is established.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist
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08 of 25
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Although each daylily flower blooms for only one day, there are plenty of them. You would be hard-pressed to find a more dependable flower tolerant of many growing conditions. This plant thrives in moist soil, preferring a fertile loam. But it does fine in clay soil, as well.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow, purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining
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09 of 25
Drooping Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Drooping coneflower doesn't quite have the refined look of the Mexican hat flower (Ratibida columnifera). But it is much hardier and sports the same cheery, swept-back petals. The plant likes medium moisture and good drainage, but it can tolerate some drought.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Clay or sandy, well-draining
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10 of 25
Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Goldenrod gets a bad rap because people confuse it with the allergy-producing ragweed; however, goldenrod should not aggravate the sinuses. The plant is very tolerant of poor soil types, and it can handle clay as long as it has good drainage.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, slightly acidic, well-draining
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11 of 25
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
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Indian grass starts the season as a low-growing clump. It begins to send up tall flower stalks by mid-summer, and it remains attractive through winter. The plant can tolerate heavy clay as well as dry and infertile soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Light brown
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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12 of 25
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
New York ironweed is a vigorous wildflower that puts out clusters of small violet flowers atop the 5- to 7-foot plant. It prefers damp growing conditions, making it very happy in clay soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Rich, slightly acidic, medium to wet moisture
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13 of 25
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
This plant can handle all kinds of tough conditions, even wet clay. But it doesn't like to be stuck in wet soil over the winter, so make sure the plant has good drainage. Prairie blazing star has the Liatris habit of starting to bloom at the top of its bottle-brush flowers and slowly working its way down.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
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14 of 25
Sea Holly (Eryngium yuccifolium)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The thistle-like flower heads make sea holly an unusual sight in the flower garden. The blooms also can last for days as cut flowers. The plant prefers somewhat dry, sandy soil, though it can grow in a well-draining clay.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Green, blue, purple, white, silver
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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15 of 25
Autumn Joy Sedum (Hylotelphium 'Autumn Joy')
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Autumn joy sedum is reliable and easy to grow. It thrives in poor sandy or gravelly soil. But it can tolerate clay or loam as long as drainage ensures it doesn't stay constantly damp.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Pink, rust-red, lavender purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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16 of 25
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus)
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Although perennial sunflowers are not as large and showy as annual sunflowers, they still make a brilliant display in the garden. Three nice species to grow are swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), false sunflower (Helianthus x laetiflorus), and ox eye (Heliopsis helianthoides).
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow and brown
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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17 of 25
Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Arkansas blue star's delicate, willow-like leaves make it a lovely foliage plant for borders. Pale blue star-shaped flowers bloom in late spring, followed by attractive seed pods. Golden fall foliage rounds out the growing season. The plant will grow in most soils, though it doesn't like prolonged drought.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Light blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, well-draining
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18 of 25
Aster (Aster sp.)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Asters are late flowering perennials that take your garden through to frost. The plants can thrive in clay soil, though they need good drainage. If you have heavy clay, consider planting in a raised bed or double-digging the soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, white, blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Slightly acidic, well-draining
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19 of 25
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Coneflowers are tough, dependable prairie plants. The purple variety is the most well-known, but newer hybrids come in several more colors. The plant can tolerate clay and rocky soil, as well as drought, heat, and humidity.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, gold, orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
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20 of 25
Eulalia Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Miscanthus varieties are some of the most popular ornamental grasses to grow. They are clump formers, and their self-seeding tendency might become a nuisance. They grow in many soils, from light and sandy to heavy clay.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Copper, silver
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
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21 of 25
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Fountain grasses are beloved for their fluffy, feathery panicles. They prefer loamy soil but also can grow well in clay. You will find fountain grasses in a wide range of heights and colors, but they tend to be perennial only in warmer zones.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
- Color Varieties: Silver, pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, medium to wet moisture
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22 of 25
Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus)
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Sweet flag is a short ornamental grass that can grow in damp areas or even submerged in water. It will spread by underground rhizomes, but usually, it is not invasive. It's a good plant to stabilize damp areas prone to erosion.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
- Color Varieties: Greenish-yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Fertile, moist
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23 of 25
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Switch grasses are tall, upright, clump-forming grasses with feathery flowers that appear late in the season. Except for cutting back and dividing, these grasses practically take care of themselves. They can tolerate dry conditions but prefer moist sandy or clay soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Sandy or clay, medium to wet moisture
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24 of 25
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Tickseed is an extremely hardy North American native plant. It is drought-resistant and low maintenance, and it repeatedly blooms throughout the season. The plant is not very particular about where it grows, but it does prefer to have good drainage.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, pink, red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
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25 of 25
Wild Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Wild bee balm does not care what kind of soil it grows in, but it does like conditions on the dry side. It has showy flower heads that spread out like sparklers. Pinch them back early in the season for bushier plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Pink, purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-draining
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Which perennials grow best in clay soil?
A perennial plant returns year after year. Some of the best perennials for clay soil include daylily flowers, asters, coneflowers, and bee balm.
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Will flowers grow in clay soil?
Except for the grasses, all the other plants have notable blooms. From black-eyed Susans to coneflowers and blazing stars to daylily, their flowers come in many hues, including yellow, orange, blue, purple, and more.
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Do hydrangeas grow well in clay soil?
Most hydrangeas prefer loamy, humus-rich, well-draining soil. However, your hydrangeas should not get stressed or fall victim to disease if you amend your clay soil with compost or organic materials.