There is a wide variety of flowers available for the perennial garden, but when dealing with a problem soil, it becomes more difficult to select plants that are sure to survive most years. Subsoils and heavy clays can be a challenge. These are the soils on which water just sits rather than soaking into and can puddle for longer periods of time. When dry they are like brick; when wet they are sticky. The bed preparation is most important in cases like this.
To help ensure survival of new plants, the amount of available light must be considered also. The plants listed below have been selected for sun, partial shade (ps), and shady (shade or sh) areas.
The plants listed below are just some of the perennial flowering plants that should adapt well to clay soils. Most are moderately to very pest resistant and are easy to grow. Good perennial reference books will supply additional information on propagation and maintenance requirements. Experiment to determine which are best for your sun and moisture levels.
Botanical Name | Common Name |
Color |
Bloom |
Light |
Water |
Comments |
Achillea tomentosa | woolly yarrow | yellow | Jun-Jul | sun | average/dry | Do not overwater, tolerates poor dry soil well.Stake in windy areas. Attracts beneficials. |
Achillea filipendulina | fernleaf yarrow | yellow | Jun-Jul | sun | average/dry | 3, do not overwater, tolerates poor dry soil well.Good for drying. Attracts beneficials. |
Arisaema spp. | Jack-in-the-pulpit | green/purple | May-July | shade | moist | Red berries. Great for a moist shade garden. |
Aruncus dioicus | goatsbeard | white | Jun or Jul | ps/sun | moist | Shrub-like, 3-6 tall. Long lived, not invasive. |
Asclepias tuberosum | butterflyweed | orange et al | Jun-Aug | sun | average/dry | Non-invasive, drought tolerant. Attractsbutterflies and hummingbirds. Nice pods. Do notoverwater or move once established. |
Astilbe arendsii & var. | false spirea, astilbe | white-pink-red | Jun-Aug | ps | moist | Needs moderate fertilization – a “gross” feeder. |
Bergenia cordifolia | heartleaf bergenia | pink | Apr-May | s/sh | adaptable | 18″ tall. Large leathery leaves, |
Brunnera macrophylla | Siberian bugloss | blue | Apr-May | sun/sh | adaptable | 12″ tall. Water in extended dry spells, does bestwith watering and fertilizing, but veryadaptable. Large heart-shaped leaves. |
Echinacea purpurea | purple coneflower | pink | Jul-Oct | sun | average | Feed in summer. Japanese beetles may be aproblem. Very tough once established.Seeds popular with goldfinches. |
Helenium autumnaleMoerheim beauty | Sneezewort | bronze red | Jul-Sept | sun/ps | average | Water in dry weather. Support stems inexposed sites. Vigorous. |
Heliopsis scabra | Heliopsis | yellow | Jul-Aug | sun | adaptable | Long lasting flowers |
Hemerocallis spp. | daylily | many | summer | sun/ps | average tomoist | Water in very dry weather. Few pests. |
Heuchera hyb. | coral bells | white-pink-red | Jun-Aug | sun/ps | average | Mulch to prevent frost heaving. Good edgingplant. |
Hibiscus spp. | rose mallow | white-pink-red | Jul-Sept | sun/ps | average tomoist | Shrub-like. Each flower lasts one day, but openover 4-6 weeks. Japanese beetles. Bold.Use as accent plants. |
Hosta spp. | plantain lily | lavender | Jul-Aug | ps-sh | average | Slugs and deer are problems. |
Houttuynia cordata’Chameleon’ | houttuynia | white | June | sun/ps | moist/wet | Grown as a ground cover. May become invasive. Leavesgreen with white, pink, and red bands. |
Iris sibirica, pseudo-acorus, versicolor, etc. | Siberian and blueand yellowflag iris | blue, violet,yellow et al. | variable | sun/ps | average tomoist | Many species adaptable to heavy soils andwet areas. |
Liatris spicata | gayfeather, blazingstar | pinkish | Jul-Aug | sun/ps | average | Must have good drainage in winter. Attractsbutterflies and other pollinators. |
Liriope muscari | lily turf | lavender-mauve-white | Aug-Oct | ps/sun | average | No lime. Tolerant of shade, drought, heat , andhigh humidity |
Lysimachia spp. | Yellow loosestrife,gooseneck loosestrife, etc. | yellow-white | Jul-Sept | sun/ps | moist | Range in height from ground cover to 3′ tallVarying with species. Perfect along streamsor heavily irrigated areas. |
Perovskia atriplicifolia | Russian sage | Lavender | Summer | sun | average – dry | 3-4 feet tall. Aromatic gray foliage. |
Primula spp. | primroses | many | Mar-Jun | ps/sh | moist | Go dormant in hot weather. Plant in clumpsor drifts. |
Rudbeckia fulgidaGoldsturm | Goldsturm rudbeckia | yellow | July-Sept | sun/ps | average | Cut to the ground after flowering.May get powdery mildew. |
Salvia spp. | salvia, sage | blue-violet | Jul-Oct | sun/ps | average | Gets leggy in too shady or moist soils. Verydrought tolerant. |
Sedum spectabile var. | stonecrop, sedum | pink-red | Aug-Oct | sun | average-dry | Drought and pest resistant. Attract butterflies. |
Tradescantia virginianavar. | spiderwort | blue-violet-white | Jun-Sept | sun/ps | moist-dry | Long-blooming. Grows almost anywhere. Formsdense clumps. |
Yucca filamentosa | Adamss needle | white | summer | sun | average/dry | Do not overwater. Plants are bold in textureand flower. |