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)
Ilex aquifolium 'Ferox Argentea'
Silver hedging holly, Hedgehog holly
Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. Van Tol'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex crenata 'Golden Gem'
Golden box leaved holly, Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King'
Highclere hybrid holly, Altaclera holly
Ilex x meserveae Blue Prince = 'Conablu'
Meserve hybrid holly, Blue holly
Ilex x meserveae Blue Princess = 'Conapri'
Meserve hybrid holly, Blue holly
Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata'
Water iris, Yellow iris, Yellow flag, Water flag, False iris
Lamium maculatum Pink Chablis = 'Checkin'
Spotted dead nettle, Spotted henbit
Lathyrus latifolius
Perennial pea, Broad leaved everlasting pea, Large leaved lathyrus, Wild sweet pea
Lathyrus latifolius 'White Pearl'
Perennial pea, Broad leaved everlasting pea, Large leaved lathyrus, Wild sweet pea
Leucanthemum x superbum 'Sante'
Shasta daisy
Leymus arenarius
Sea lyme grass, Wild rye, European dune grass
Liriope muscari 'Moneymaker'
Lily turf
Lonicera periclymenum 'Serotina'
Late Dutch honeysuckle, Late red honeysuckle, Woodbine
Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker'
Yellow loosestrife, Fringed loosestrife, Hairy loosestrife
Milium effusum 'Aureum'
Millet, Bowles's golden grass, Wood millet, Woodrush
Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten'
Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'
Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Susuki, Japanese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine grass, Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Susuki, Japanese silver grass
Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'
Purple moor grass, Mountain's friend
Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic'
Caucasus catmint, Giant catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'
Persian catmint
Paeonia x festiva 'Rubra Plena'
Memorial day paeonia, Common red paeony, Common red peony
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta 'Feesey'
Gardener's garters, Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass
Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'
Mock orange
Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'
Sweet mock orange, Garland spindle
Phyllostachys aurea
Fishpole bamboo, Gosan-Chiku, Hotei-Chiku, Golden bamboo
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureocaulis
Golden crookstem bamboo, Yellow groove bamboo, Golden groove bamboo
Phyllostachys nigra
Black stemmed bamboo, Kuro-Chiku, Black bamboo
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold'
Common ninebark, Easter ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius Lady In Red = 'Tuilad'
Common ninebark, Easter ninebark
Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Primrose Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Marian Red Robin = 'Marrob'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Pulmonaria 'Majeste'
Lungwort, Jerusalem cowslip
Pyracantha 'Orange Glow'
Firethorn
Rheum
Rhubarb, Ornamental Rhubarb
Rhodanthemum 'Casablanca'
Moroccan daisy
Rhododendron 'Homebush'
Azalea 'Homebush'
Rhododendron 'Princess Anne'
Hybrid rhododendron
Rhododendron 'Scarlet Wonder'
Hybrid rhododendron
Rhododendron 'Vuyk's Scarlet' (Vuykiana)
Azalea 'Vuyk's Scarlet', Evergreen azalea
Ribes
Currant, Gooseberry
Ribes nigrum
Blackcurrant, European blackcurrant
Ribes rubrum 'Jonkheer van Tets'
Early red currant
Ribes rubrum 'White Versailles'
Whitecurrant 'Versailles Blanche', Early white currant