Clay soil can pose physical problems for both gardener and garden - it is heavy and hard to work (best to work it as little as possible), and often does not provide the oxygen that plant require to grow properly. Amendment helps, as does a good permanent mulch of organic material. The slightest grade can also provide a significant drainage improvement (e.g. 'berms' created on flat areas).
Clay soil may be poor or rich in nutrients, but the soil's structure can also effectively 'lock' nutrients (such as iron) making them unavailable to plants. Organic amendment, either mixed into the soil ahead of time or applied as a mulch, is the best way to mitigate the negative effects of clay (addition of sand or gravel can sometimes make things worse!). Gypsum can also help some clays by binding the flat clay particles together to make larger, loam-like particles - this takes repeated applications over a length of time (years).
Ultimately, if you are 'stuck' with a clay soil, consideration of what you plant in it is important. In this list are plants which have shown themselves to be relatively tolerant of clay soils (but not necessarily of soggy soils). If you have a plant you think belongs in this list, please, drop us a note.
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plants by cultural needs/tolerances
clay soil
TREES
Alnus sp.
Alder
Casuarina sp.
Beefwood, Sheoak
Catalpa
Crataegus sp.
Hawthorn Tree
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian Olive
Eucalyptus citriodora
Lemon-Scented Gum
Ficus carica
Fig
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis
Thornless Honeylocust
Gingko biloba
Juglans sp.
Walnut
Koelreuteria bipinnata
Chinese Flame Tree
Magnolia sp.
Malus (most)
Crabapple
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Cajeput Tree
Myoporum laetum
Paulownia tomentosa
Empress Tree
Picea sp.
Spruce
Populus sp.
Poplar
Punica granatum
Pomegranate
Salix sp.
Willow Tree
Sequioa sempervirens
Redwood
Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress Tree
Tilia sp.
Linden
Umbellularia californica
California Bay Laurel
Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste Tree
SHRUBS/VINES
Aristolochia californica
Pipevine, Dutchman's Pipe
Aucuba japonica
Buddleia
Butterfly Bush
Calycanthus sp.
Spicebush
Carpenteria californica
Cestrum sp.
Jessamine
Chaenomeles sp.
Flowering Quince
Diplacus aurantiacus
Monkeyflower
xFatshedera lizei
Fatsia japonica
Japanese Aralia
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon
Holodiscus discolor
Creambush, Oceanspray
Lonicera
Honeysuckle
Mahonia aquifolium
Oregon Grape Holly
Myrica californica
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Nerium
Oleander
Osmanthus sp.
Sweet Olive
Parthenocissus sp.
Virginia Creeper, Boston Ivy
Philodendron bipinnatifidum
P. selloum
Physocarpus sp.
Ninebark
Plumbago auriculata
Cape Plumbago
Punica granatum (small or dwarf types)
Pomegranate
Ribes sp.
Flowering Currant
Rosa sp.
Rose
Rosmarinus
Rosemary
Sambucus sp.
Elderberry
Scrophularia californica
Spirea sp.
Symphoricarpos sp.
Snowberry
Viburnum opulus
Snowball Bush, Cranberry Viburnum
Weigela florida
LOW PLANTS
Acanthus sp.
Bear's Breech
Achillea ap.
Yarrow
Bergenia sp.
Centaurea sp. (some)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Dwarf Plumbago
Equisetum sp.
Horsetail Rush
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy
Galanthus sp.
Snowdrop
Galium odoratum
Sweet Woodruff
Hedera sp.
Ivy
Hemerocallis sp.
Daylily
Heuchera sp.
Coral Root
Juncus sp.
Rush
Leujocum sp.
Snowflake
Ligularia sp.
Mentha sp.
Myosotis sp.
Forget-Me-Not
Narcissus sp.
Daffodil, Jonquil, Narcissus
Phyla nodiflora
Lippia
Physalis alkekengi
Chinese Lantern Plant
Ruta sp.
Rue
Satureja douglasii
Yerba Buena
Sisyrinchium californicum
Golden-Eyed Grass
Symphytum sp.
Comfrey
Tolmiea menziesii
Piggy-Back Plant
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Calla Lily
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