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 carnea 'Eileen Porter'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Loughrigg'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Springwood Pink'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica ciliaris 'Mrs C. H. Gill'
Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica ciliaris f. albiflora 'White Wings'
Dorset heath, Fringed heath, Ciliate heath
Erica cinerea 'Katinka'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'Lime Soda'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica cinerea 'P.S. Patrick'
Heather, Bell heath, Bell heather, Scotch bell, Grey heather, Twisted heath
Erica erigena 'Hibernica Alba'
Heather, Irish heath
Erica tetralix 'Ken Underwood'
Cross-leaved heath, Bog heather, Moor heath, Bell heath
Erica vagans 'Fiddlestone'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Lyonesse'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica x darleyensis 'Margaret Porter'
Darley dale heath, Darley heath, Winter heath
Erysimum 'Bowles's Me Away'
Perennial wallflower
Erysimum 'Treasure Red'
Wallflower, Wall gillyflower
Erysimum Sugar Rush Purple Bicolour
Wallflower, Wall gillyflower
Eupatorium purpureum 'Bartered Bride'
Joe Pye weed
Fargesia 'Angustissima'
Narrow leaf bamboo, Angustissima bamboo
Fargesia murielae 'Lava'
Umbrella bamboo, Muriel bamboo
Fargesia murielae 'Superjumbo'
Umbrella bamboo
Fargesia murieliae x nitida 'Viking'
Umbrella bamboo, Muriel bamboo, Fargesia hybrid bamboo
Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl'
Fountain bamboo
Fargesia nitida 'Pillar'
Fountain bamboo
Festuca glauca 'Compacta Blue'
Blue festuca, Blue Sheep's festuca
Gaillardia 'Sunset Flash'
Blanket flower, Jam tarts
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Dazzler'
Fire wheels, Hybrid blanket flower
Gaultheria mucronata 'Wintertime'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaura lindheimeri 'Corrie's Gold'
Whirling butterflies
Genista tinctoria 'Royal Gold'
Dyer's greenwood, Common woadwaxen, Dyers broom
Gentiana scabra Rocky Diamond Blue Heart = 'Genfire'
Japanese gentian
Gerbera 'Garvinea Orange'
Transvaal daisy, Barbeton daisy
Gerbera 'Garvinea Pink'
Transvaal daisy, Barbeton daisy
Gerbera 'Garvinea Yellow'
Transvaal daisy, Barbeton daisy
Hardenbergia violacea
Purple coral pea, Coral pea, Vine lilac
Helleborus 'Silver Rose'
Silver rose
Helleborus x hybridus 'Double Ellen Pink'
Lenten rose, False rose, Eastern hellebore
Helleborus x hybridus 'Yellow Lady'
Lenten rose, False rose, Eastern hellebore
Helleborus x hybridus - red-flowered
Lenten rose, False rose, Eastern hellebore
Helleborus x lemperii 'HGC Lisann'
Christmas rose
Holcus mollis
Creeping soft grass, Velvet grass, Calf kill, Yorkshire fog, Dart grass, Salem grass
Ilex crenata 'Fastigiata'
Slender box leaved holly, Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Kniphofia citrina
Red hot poker, Lemon yellow Red hot poker
Lawn seed mix, sandy soil
Leucanthemum 'Macaroon'
Shasta daisy
Lewisia cotyledon 'Mountain Dreams'
Siskiyou lewisia
Lobelia 'Tania's Sister'
Luzula sylvatica
Greater wood rush
Nemesia 'Aroma Banana Split'
Cape snapdragon