Plants, Shrubs, and Trees for Whidbey Island’s Heavy Clay Soils

Hard-packed clay soils are a challenge. Clay is a common occurrence in Whidbey Island landscapes, and it poses unending challenges to local gardeners. Clay soils become mucky and wet in winter rains, then hard as concrete in summer drought. The wet winter clay mud can drown plant roots, whereas the bone-dry summer clay is difficult to penetrate with a garden hose.

Many landowners work to improve their clay soils with berms, drainage systems, and soil additives. Some Whidbey gardeners build raised beds, filling them with amended soil. (Here at Venture Out Nursery, we carry an excellent soil conditioner product from Gardner & Bloome that can be mixed into existing clay to help aerate and improve drainage.)

Fortunately, there’s an even easier method to dealing with clay: choose plants that thrive in it. Here are a few of our favorite plants that grow well in clay soils.

Clay-Tolerant Perennials

Blooming perennials for sunny clay spots include Bee Balm, Camas and Calla Lilies, Cardinal Flower, Ligularia, and Butterfly Weed. Siberian Iris, especially, are known for their ability to thrive in both drought and standing water.

Ostrich Fern is a great choice for a shady area.

Clay-Tolerant Grasses

Miscanthus Sinensis and Panicum Virgatum are two perennial grasses that can grow in clay.

Clay-Tolerant Shrubs

Red Twig Dogwood, Serviceberry, and Snowberry are all clay-tolerant native shrubs.

Clay-Tolerant Trees

Trees for clay soils are Gingko and River Birch. Gingko has the added benefit of thriving in coastal conditions. (For more plants that love the coast, check out our previous blog post: Plants for Whidbey’s Coastal Bluffs.)

Feel free to contact us at Venture Out Plant Nursery for further information! We love finding just the right plants for your unique landscape.

Written by Olivia Round.