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)
Clematis 'Warszawska Nike'
Virgin's bower
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
Pot o' gold, Moonbeam tickseed, Threadleaf coreopsis, Whorled tickseed
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
Silver variegated dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, White fruited dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata'
Siberian dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
Siberian dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
Red osier dogwood, American dogwood
Cortaderia selloana
Sellow's pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana
Sellow's pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila'
Sellow's pampas grass
Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
Corkscrew hazel, Hazelnut
Cotoneaster lacteus
Parney cotoneaster, Red clusterberry
Cotoneaster procumbens 'Queen of Carpets'
Prostrate cotoneaster
Daboecia cantabrica 'Atropurpurea'
Connemara heath, St Daboec's heath, Irish heath
Dianthus 'Devon Flavia'
Carnation
Dianthus Rebekah = 'Wp09 Mar05'
Dwarf pink, Clove
Dianthus Tickled Pink = 'Devon Pp 11'
Carnation
Digitalis grandiflora 'Carillon'
Large flowered yellow foxglove
Doronicum 'Little Leo'
Leopard's bane
Erica arborea
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica arborea 'Estrella Gold'
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica arborea var. alpina f. aureifolia 'Albert's Gold'
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica carnea
Heather, Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Rosalie'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. aureifolia 'Foxhollow'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican fleabane, Australian fleabane, Wall daisy, Bonytip fleabane
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'
Bowles's wallflower, Bowles's erysimum, Perennial wallflower
Erysimum 'Rysi Copper'
Wallflower, Perennial wallflower
Erysimum 'Winter Joy'
Wallflower, Perennial wallflower
Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride'
Common pearl bush
Fargesia
Fountain bamboo
Fargesia murielae
Umbrella bamboo, Muriel bamboo
Fargesia murielae 'Jumbo'
Umbrella bamboo, Muriel bamboo
Fargesia rufa
Farges' rufus bark bamboo
Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
Geranium 'Mavis Simpson'
Riversleaianum geranium
Geranium 'Orion'
Geranium Rozanne = 'Gerwat'
Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety'
Wallich's geranium
Hakonechloa macra
Hakone grass, Urahagusa, Japanese reed grass
Hakonechloa macra 'Alboaurea'
Hakone grass, Urahagusa, Japanese reed grass
Helleborus 'Anna's Red'
Rodney Davey hellebore
Helleborus argutifolius
Corsican hellebore
Helleborus niger
Christmas rose, Black hellebore, Snow rose, Winter rose
Helleborus x ballardiae HGC Camelot = 'Coseh 940'
Ballard's hellebore
Helleborus x sahinii 'Winterbells'
Hellebore
Ilex aquifolium
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
Silver-margined holly, Broad leaved silver holly