Clay, chalk, sandy & acidic soil
While many plants will grow in more challenging soils, it makes gardening easier to choose plants that prefer these soil types. ; Top tip: Use organic matter (bark chips, compost or soil improver) to give your soil a helping hand. For example with chalk and sandy soil, mulching with organic matter (bark chippings or compost) will conserve moisture. For clay soils, digging in organic matter (compost or soil improver) will lighten its structure and discourage compaction.
Acidic soil plants
1202 plants
Chalky soil plants
833 plants
Clay soil lovers
401 plants
Sandy soil plants
606 plants
All plants (1944)
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'
Dissected Japanese maple, Smooth Japanese maple
Acer palmatum 'Garnet'
Dissected Japanese maple, Smooth Japanese maple
Achillea 'Moonshine'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold'
Fernleaf yarrow
Alstroemeria 'Apollo'
Peruvian lily, Lily of the Incas
Alstroemeria 'Oriana'
Peruvian lily, Lily of the Incas
Amelanchier lamarckii
Snowy mespilus, Shadblow
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Robin Hill'
Apple serviceberry
Andromeda polifolia 'Compacta'
Bog rosemary, Marsh andromeda
Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C.Buxton'
Yellow chamomile, Dyer's chamomile, Ox-eye chamomile, Golden marguerite
Astrantia 'Roma'
Masterwort
Aubrieta 'Bressingham Red'
Rock cress
Aubrieta gracilis 'Kitte Rose'
Rock rose
Berberis thunbergii 'Maria'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Admiration'
Barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana'
Crimson pygmy barberry, Little favourite, Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Golden Ring'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Harlequin'
Thunberg's mottled barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Bergenia 'Bressingham White'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Buddleja alternifolia
Alternate leaf butterfly bush, Fountain buddleia, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Nanho White = 'Monite'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Korean feather reed grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Feather reed grass
Calluna vulgaris
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Tib'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame'
Common Scotch heather
Campanula glomerata 'Superba'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna'
Milky bellflower
Campanula poscharskyana
Serbian bellflower, Trailing bellflower
Campanula poscharskyana 'Stella'
Serbian bellflower, Trailing bellflower
Carex 'Feather Falls'
Variegated Japanese sedge
Carex elata 'Aurea'
Bowles's golden sedge, Tufted sedge, Stiff sedge, European tussock sedge
Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'
Evergold Japanese sedge, Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Carex testacea
Orange New Zealand sedge
Clematis 'Arabella'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Ernest Markham'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Freda'
Mountain clematis
Clematis 'Gipsy Queen'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Niobe'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Perle d'Azur'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Polish Spirit'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans'
Virgin's bower
Clematis 'The President'
Virgin's bower