Previously, aronia was only available as a large shrub or small tree, but Low Scape® aronias make this versatile, durable species available to all with new, smaller habits. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Hamabo is one of the best. Many shrubs grow well on clay soils, especially the popular deciduous flowering shrubs: deutzia, philadelphus, weigela, forsythia and ribes for example. Abelia, Chaenomeles, Corylus, Cytisus, Escallonia, Garrya, Genista, Hamamelis, Lonicera, Potentilla, Sambucus, Skimmia, Spiraea, Syringa. Rosa ‘Bonica’ for example has healthy green foliage, few thorns and will bloom repeatedly though summer and into autumn with little attention from you. Their yellow flowers combine well with the golden variegations of spotted laurels. Note: These will grow in clay soil, but some do best in a part-sun spot. But the simple fact is that clay soil gets its bad rap because it’s hard on people - from a plant’s point of view, clay soil is usually not problematic at all. Andy has over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant. Other good shrubs to grow on clay soils: Abelia, Chaenomeles, Corylus, Cytisus, Escallonia, Garrya, Genista, Hamamelis, Lonicera, Potentilla, Sambucus, Skimmia, Spiraea, Syringa Planting on clay can be difficult It is … There are flowering perennials, shrubs, climbers, and trees that all enjoy or tolerate hard clay at their roots. In addition to their ability to withstand challenging conditions, smooth hydrangeas like the Incrediball ® series and Invincibelle ® series bring all-new colors to this landscape standard. These shrubs grow in heavy clay in nature, offer generous blossoms, and are practically foolproof to cultivate. 10 flowers for clay soil; Small trees and shrubs for heavy and clay soils; Tips for growing garlic in clay soil; Make the most of a heavy soil, with this selection of border plants. Dig a … Arborvitae are hardy up to USDA growing zone 3. They are nestled into a neat, mounded shrub of emerald green foliage that emerges with a snowy white coating of fine, soft hairs. The tall arching, hollow stems are sea-green. All Rights Reserved. Want to learn more about shrubs? A keen gardener Andy and his wife Ros have a two acre garden in Hampshire, U.K. that is open to groups by appointment. Special interests include hardy shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials, flower bulbs, wildlife and garden design; he has authored books on all of these subjects. 2. The flower clusters hang from the branches from early summer through to autumn, claret red bracts interspersed with small white flowers. Whether you call it rose of Sharon or althea, everyone agrees that this old-fashioned favorite is hard to beat for easy-care summer color. Choose from reblooming types like Bloomerang ® or Scent and Sensibility ™ or double-flowered cultivars like Scentara ™. Low Scape® Hedger aronia has a taller but narrow habit, so it makes the perfect low hedge for landscaping or screening off air conditioners and the like. Butterfly bush, for example, is not usually a great choice for planting in clay soil because it cannot stand up to cold, wet conditions. Plus, they are typically untouched by deer and rabbits. The plants hold their sunny golden flowers high above the foliage. They bloom for several weeks and often rebloom in fall. The general impression is that clay can be quite difficult to work with and that only a few plants can successfully grow in it. Email Save Comment 6. Planting in clay soils is a much different process than planting in most rich soils. Early autumn is therefore the best time to plant, to give the shrub longer to establish. Evergreens can sometimes be tricky to grow. In addition to their ability to withstand challenging conditions, smooth hydrangeas like the Incrediball® series and Invincibelle® series bring all-new colors to this landscape standard. Although many plants love a sunny site, not all plants can withstand a site that is both sunny, and has dry soil. Want to grow edibles? I do encourage gardeners to think of shrub roses just as they would any flowering shrub and to use them accordingly. A combination of these two plants with symphoricarpus, the snowberry is ideal where gardening is impossible, on a heavy clay bank for example. 10 plants for clay soil: Ribes sanguineum 10. All one really has to do is plant them in a sunny spot and enjoy. For smaller gardens Magnolia stellata is the natural choice and it performs reliably with a wonderful display of starry, shining blooms from early spring. Group B Three shrubs that will grow in clay soils made really free-draining are camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons. Leycesteria is ideal to plant with red-barked dogwoods.All cornus grown for their winter stems do well on clay and are also valuable for sticky, wet sites. Silphium plants are distinctive prairie plants that like the rich quality of clay soil. For the longest bloom period, look to reblooming varieties like Sonic Bloom® or the Snippet® series. And you can grow flowering shrubs in clay soil like: Weigela, Buddleja, Forsythia, Hydrangea, Chaenomeles (flowering quince) Roses are also good shrubs for clay especially if it has been improved with organic matter. Better still, they all have strong, sturdy stems that won’t flop, even after summer rains, like ‘Annabelle’ notoriously does. In addition to the unusual foliage, pink flowers in early summer contrast with the black leaves for a traffic-stopping display. What he should have said was: If you have clay, you will have to make the best of it by choosing the right plants. Follow. I feel rather smug about my sandy soil which is light, easy to dig and drains freely. All of these do well in sun as well as shade and provide important structure on the heaviest of soils. Clay soil can make gardening tough. They grow well on clay, the foliage stays green and healthy and the flowers can be superb. Some soils may be a clay mix, which means that it may be predominantly clay, but also include a certain % of another type of soil as well. There's some beautiful flowering trees that cope admirably in clay soil, as well as trees with beautiful bark or evergreen foliage. They're also often high in nutrients and if the structure can be improved, make some of the best growing conditions for plants. Hydrangea paniculata 'Floribunda' is a good choice for clay soils. Clay soil is one of the more difficult soils to have in a garden bed. On heavy clay shrubs are a natural choice because major cultivation of the soil is rarely required after planting, just the removal of weeds around the plants. It fell out of favor, however, due to its prominent thorns. Lilacs are actually extremely durable. My whole yard is clay and hard to work with. In fact, clay soils offer plants two major advantages over other soil types: they hold water well, minimizing drought stress, and are abundant in nutrients essential for plant growth. © 2021 Proven Winners North America LLC. They do so with good-natured aplomb and the ability to take most anything nature throws at them, including tough soils. Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. While Kodiak® diervillas may not be the most flashy shrubs you’ll ever plant, you will definitely appreciate how hard-working they are – and how much work they save you. Most people know the tree-like white flowering dogwoods that burst into bloom each spring. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8. It’s perfect to brighten up a shady corner. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Hamabo is one of the best. Here’s a list of 10 Good Veggies to Grow in Clay Soil. The vigorous shrub Leycesteria formosa grows just about anywhere and succeeds well on clay, even on damp sites. Best left unpruned but rejuvenated occasionally by cutting back hard. However, when I see how well so many plants look growing on clay my attitude changes. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle® newsletter. I do add compost every year to the beds and plant with good soil every time. We’ve heard reports of over a month of bloom in areas as hot as Dallas, Texas, which shows how tough and durable these springtime beauties are. Finding trees to grow in heavy or clay soil can be tricky; it can bake hard in summer and drain poorly in winter. They are also highly resistant to diseases that can plague conventional lilacs, too. Holly Clay soils can dry out and bake hard in the summer. I'm looking for reliable shrubs that will grow well in clay soil. This tough species can grow in most any soil and even tolerates shade well. Trees that will grow in clay soil. The love – nay, need – cold temperatures, making them one of the most cold-tolerant landscape plants. Perennial Plants for Shady Clay. Clay Tolerant Plants Print this page. Do remember that shrubs grown on clay have great stability, the weight of the soil keeps the roots firm and the plants rarely suffer from wind-rock. For larger spaces choose one of the cultivars of Magnolia soulangeana, however this grows best in neutral to acid clay. Planting in spring may be difficult if the ground is wet and heavy. Flowering quince is an old-fashioned favorite for its very vivid spring blooms. The emphasis is on foliage to provide colour and texture.WW... Read more. The semi-double double white flowers are blushed in bud, highly scented, open over many weeks and develop red hips later. Malus (crab apple) 9. The best shrubs for clay soil are those that are tolerant of its texture and its ability to hold water and then dry out. If you think you have these conditions, a simple solution without amending your soil would be to use these proven plants from the list below. Both go well with roses, which also grow well in clay soil. Look for the variety Golden Lanterns with soft golden yellow leaves. Angus’s Top Ten Australian Plants For Clay Soils Angus’s Top Ten Australian Plants For Clay Soils 1 Melaleuca linariifolia ‘Claret Tops’ Because of its fine grey … The plant itself if tough, vigorous and quick-growing. Of the camellias, C. japonica and C. x williamsii have produced numerous named cultivars. Finally, come autumn, the whole plant blazes with brilliant orange, red, and yellow color. Mahonias also do well on clay and provide cheering winter and early spring colour. The emphasis is on foliage to provide colour and texture. For flowering shrubs that like clay, a great place to start is with native smooth hydrangea, also called Annabelle hydrangea. Join me on my next 4 week online Shrubs course here at Learning with experts, Understanding your Soil: Acid and Alkaline Soils. Philadelphus species and varieties Known as mock oranges, these white-flowered, often fragrant, shrubs are very variable in size. Tough hawthorns are deciduous trees or shrubs, and a good choice for clay soils. Come to the garden in late spring bloom time, weigela seem to announce the transition summer... It fell shrubs that grow in clay soil of favor, however, when i see how so. Ve been struggling to achieve your dream garden or landscape in clay soil one... Be planted anywhere and relied upon for beautiful, practically fool-proof hydrangeas attitude changes tree-like white flowering dogwoods that into... Ten beautiful shrubs that can tolerate clay soil, but some do best in part-sun! 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