Plants That Thrive in Clay

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 12:20 am

If you live in an area of the country where there is plenty of clay, but not much else for your gardening, it can be tough to find plants that are up to the challenge. Some gardeners may even throw in the towel and give up on a garden altogether! But don’t worry, you won’t have to do that. Not with this list of plants that thrive in clay, anyway. This list is full of plants that love clay soil, and they’re beautiful, too! Find my full list below and start gardening in clay today!

Contents

1 Plants That Thrive in Clay

1.1 Iris

1.2 Castor Bean

1.3 Baptista

1.3.1 A member of the legume family, these pretty flowers like soil as moist (as long as it drains well) and as dense as it gets. Believe it or not, these plants were once used to dye clothing blue, pretty cool right? Plant in zones 5-9 and like most of the other plants on this list, it prefers full sun.

1.4 Hosta

1.4.1 You’ve probably seen Hosta plants thriving indoor conditions, just as you are to see them doing the same outside. Hosta plants can weather a variety of conditions just as long as soil is kept moist and aren’t picky about the level of light they get. Hostas are perennials, though, so they will have to be “dormant” for a time, even when growing inside of the house.

1.5 Aster

Iris

If you ask me, Iris flowers are one of the prettiest plants on this list, and I’m not just saying that because I like the song by the Goo Goo Dolls. But just because they’re gorgeous doesn’t mean they aren’t up to growing in tough clay soil. In fact, these plants thrive in those kinds of conditions. Iris flowers do best when planted in late Summer and are left to bloom the following growing season. Make sure you put them in a spot that receives full sun!

Castor Bean

I know, I know. The name of it doesn’t make this plant sound super great. But actually, the Castor Bean plant is a stunner. Not only do the large purple and red shaded leaves make for an interesting garden feature, but these funky plants actually produce fruit, too! Grow Castor Bean in zones 9-11 and always make sure that you plant them in an area of your yard that gets full sun exposure with moist clay soil.

Baptista

A member of the legume family, these pretty flowers like soil as moist (as long as it drains well) and as dense as it gets. Believe it or not, these plants were once used to dye clothing blue, pretty cool right? Plant in zones 5-9 and like most of the other plants on this list, it prefers full sun.

Hosta

You’ve probably seen Hosta plants thriving indoor conditions, just as you are to see them doing the same outside. Hosta plants can weather a variety of conditions just as long as soil is kept moist and aren’t picky about the level of light they get. Hostas are perennials, though, so they will have to be “dormant” for a time, even when growing inside of the house.

Aster

Looking for a great groundcover? Try planting Aster! Known for its beautiful flowers in a variety of colors, Asters are perfect for any gardener looking to add a little pizzaz. As with the other plants on this list, Aster does best in areas of full sun!