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)
Betula 'Mount Apoi'
Birch, Hybrid birch
Betula albosinensis 'China Ruby' (B. Humphrey)
Chinese red birch, Chinese paper birch
Betula albosinensis 'Red Panda'
Chinese red birch, Chinese paper birch
Betula ermanii 'Grayswood Hill'
Erman's birch, Gold birch, Russian rock birch
Betula pendula 'Laciniata'
Swedish birch, European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Tristis'
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula utilis 'Wakehurst Place Chocolate'
Himalayan birch
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Doorenbos'
Himalayan birch, White barked Himalayan birch
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost'
Himalayan birch, White barked Himalayan birch
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Jermyns'
Himalayan birch, White barked Himalayan birch
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Silver Shadow'
Himalayan birch, White barked Himalayan birch
Bidens ferulifolia 'Bee Happy™ Double Orange'
Tickseed, Fennel leaf tick, Ferny tickseed
Bidens ferulifolia 'Beedance Red'
Tickseed
Bidens ferulifolia 'Efraim's Yellow'
Tickseed
Bidens ferulifolia 'Taka Tuka® Lemon Red Center'
Tickseed
Bouteloua gracilis
Mosquito grass, Signal-arm grass, Blue grama
Briza maxima
Rattle grass, Shivering grass, Great quaking grass
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Brunnera macrophylla 'Sea Heart'
Greater forget-me-not
Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Darent Valley'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Camberwell Beauty = 'Camkeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Nanho Purple = 'Monum'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja x weyeriana 'Sungold'
Hybrid orange ball tree
Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner'
Littleleaf boxwood, Small leaved box
Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima'
Box, Common boxwood, American boxwood
Buxus sempervirens 'Latifolia Maculata'
Box, Common boxwood, American boxwood
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Feather reed grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Feather reed grass
Calceolaria 'Calynopsis™ Orange'
Slipper flower
Calceolaria 'Calynopsis™ Purple'
Slipper flower
Calibrachoa 'Superbells® Over Easy™'
Trailing petunia
Calluna vulgaris
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Alexandra'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Alieke'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Beoley Gold'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Bonfire Brilliance'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Boskoop'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'County Wicklow'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Cuprea'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Dark Beauty'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Darkness'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Dart's Flamboyant'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Dart's Gold'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Elsie Purnell'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Fairy'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather