Perennials and Clay Soil
Clay soil consists of extremely fine particles. In wet weather, these particles absorb large amounts of water to form a nearly impenetrable mass. Many plants have difficulty growing in waterlogged clay because their roots don't get adequate air. Some perennials, however, have adapted to clay-rich soil. With the right amounts of sun and water, and an acceptable climate, these perennials combine in eye-catching garden displays. Does this Spark an idea?
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Perennials for Wet Clay
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Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), an upright, 2- to 4-foot, clump forming perennial, has narrow, lancelike green leaves. Flat clusters of dense, rose purple florets crown its stems in summer and fall, bringing soft fragrance to the garden. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on its spring foliage. This perennial is at home in full sun or partial shade and moist or wet clay. Great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) grows between 2 and 3 feet tall. It shares swamp milkweed's flowering season, producing spikes of tubular, bright blue-violet flowers from midsummer to autumn. Both these hummingbird-attracting plants are in home in full sun to partial shade and moist or wet clay.
Perennials for Dry Clay
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Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) blooms from late spring into summer. This late spring to early summer bloomer does well in dry clay soil. It brightens gardens with mounds of greenish-blue foliage and up to 12-inch spikes of hooded, purple blooms. Showy, black seedpods that follow the blooms add interest to floral design. False blue indigo needs full sun or partial shade. Mounds of downy, gray leaves and stems bearing abundant, lavender or purple, fringed summer flowers make woolly ironweed (Vernonia lindheimeri) a distinctive addition to dry, sunny clay gardens. The 10- to 30-inch high plant's nectar attracts butterflies.
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Perennials for Shady Clay
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Clay-tolerant wild cranesbill is a spreading, 1- to 3-foot high perennial. It has spring-to-early summer clusters of white-centered, lavender or pink blooms. Its airy, lobed aromatic green foliage assumes yellow and red fall tones. Wild cranesbill spreads by rhizomes but seldom becomes invasive. It thrives in averagely moist locations. Wild bergamot's (Monarda fistulosa) aromatic foliage is a tea and perfume ingredient. Its edible, white or lavender or pompom flowers bloom between May and September. They attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The 2- to 5-foot perennial grows in sun to partial shade and a wide range of soils, from sand to clay.
Perennials for Sunny Clay
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Sun-loving Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximilian), at 3 to 10 feet high, works in the middle or back of the perennial border. It has long, narrow green leaves. Large, brown- or green-centered yellow flowers open along and atop its stems from late summer to late fall. Birds and wildlife feed on its seeds. It performs best in moist clay. Prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), or Mexican hat, has distinctive flowers with from three to seven drooping, yellow or yellow-margined, reddish-brown petals around narrow, cylindrical deep brown centers. It blooms from early summer until early fall. The colorful, 18- to 30-inch perennial has narrow, deeply cut, compound green foliage. It performs well in clay and many other soils.
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References
- University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science: Landscape Gardening on Clay; Dr. Leonard Perry; 2003
- University of Minnesota Extension Yard & Garden Line News: Perennials for Clay Soils; Anne Gachuhi; July 2004
- University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Asclepias Incarnata
- University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Lobelia Siphilitica
- Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Baptisia Australis
- University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Vernonia Lindheimeri
Resources
- Photo Credit clay dunes image by FotoWorx from Fotolia.com
