Heavy Clay Soil Tolerant Plants

Planting in heavy clay soil can be a real challenge. Clay-based soils retain moisture well, meaning they can be slow draining and compact easily. Then, when clay soils eventually dry out, they typically become very hard, leading to cracking and shrinking. But, don’t lose hope—there are many hardy plants that not only survive but thrive in clay! And, some of the plants that tolerate clay soil can help break up and improve its texture and drainage.


  • Birch, Dakota Pinnacle
  • Birch, River
  • Crabapple
  • Elm
  • Hawthorn
  • Honeylocust
  • Ironwood
  • Maple, Red varieties
  • Willow
  • Arborvitae
  • Juniper
  • Spruce
  • Yew

  • Barberry
  • Chokeberry
  • Currant
  • Dogwood
  • Euonymus
  • Forsythia
  • Ninebark
  • Snowberry
  • Spirea
  • Stephanandra
  • Viburnum (not trilobum)
  • Winterberry
  • Aruncus
  • Astilbe
  • Calamagrostis, Feather Reed
  • Carex, Sedge Grass
  • Chelone, Hot Lips
  • Deschampsia, Tufted Hair Grass
  • Fern, Cinnamon
  • Iris, Blue Flag
  • Iris, Siberian
  • Ligularia
  • Lobelia
  • Lysimachia, Moneywort
  • Molina, Moor Grass
  • Monarda
  • Panicum, Switch Grass
  • Vinca, Periwinkle