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)
Erica ciliaris
Heather, Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica ciliaris 'Corfe Castle'
Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica ciliaris 'Stoborough'
Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica ciliaris 'Wych'
Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica cinerea
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Atropurpurea'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Atrosanguinea Reuthe's Variety'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'C.D. Eason'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Cindy'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Eden Valley'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Knap Hill Pink'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Pentreath'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Pink Ice'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Rosea Splendens'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Stephen Davis'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Velvet Night'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. alba 'Alba Minor'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. alba 'Hookstone White'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aurefolia 'Golden Drop'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aureifolia 'Fiddler's Gold'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aureifolia 'Golden Hue'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aureifolia 'John Eason'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aureifolia 'Rock Pool'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea f. aureifolia 'Windlebrooke'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica discolor
Heather, Two coloured heath
Erica erigena
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena 'Hibernica'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena 'Irish Dusk'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena 'Superba'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena f. alba 'W.T. Rackliff'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena f. aurefolia 'Brightness'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica erigena f. aureifolia 'Golden Lady'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica lusitanica
Portugese heath, Spanish heath
Erica lusitanica 'Sheffield Park'
Portuguese heath, Spanish heath
Erica lusitanica f. aureifolia 'George Hunt'
Portugese heath, Spanish heath
Erica mackayana
Mackay's heath
Erica mammosa
Heather, Red Signal heath, Ninepin heath
Erica scoparia subsp. scoparia 'Minima'
Corsican heath, Besom heath
Erica spiculifolia
Spike heath
Erica terminalis
Corsican heath
Erica tetralix
Cross-leaved heath, Bog heather, Moor heath, Bell heath
Erica tetralix 'Alba Mollis'
Cross-leaved heath, Bog heather, Moor heath, Bell heath
Erica tetralix 'Con Underwood'
Cross-leaved heath, Bog heather, Moor heath, Bell heath
Erica tetralix f. stellata 'Pink Star'
Cross-leaved heath, Bog heather, Moor heath, Bell heath
Erica vagans
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans
Heather, Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Birch Glow'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Mrs D.F. Maxwell'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath