The Best Perennial Flowers for Clay Soil

Because clay causes soil to drain slowly, it can be hard to grow perennial flowers in clay soils. Perennials have a shallow root system and need the type of environment that can flourish year after year. That's why clay soil isn't an ideal choice for most perennials, although there are some perennials that do better than others such as certain daisies, black-eyed Susans and others.


Echinacea purple coneflowers are perennials that break up soil as they grow. These plants love sunny spots are and can tolerate drought-like conditions, besides clay soil, making them a popular perennial.


Black-eyed Susans, also known as Rudbeckia, are hardy clay tolerant perennials that are low maintenance as they love sunshine and are forgiving when neglected. this flower is one of the most common American wildflowers known. Their blooms are golden or yellow-orange with russet petals and black-brown or green centers. These bright looking plants that stands stiff and erect look stunning when purple coneflowers are placed in back of them

Daisies
There are a few species of daisies that are able to grow in clay soil. Leucanthemum Maximum Shasta daisies do well in a clay soil, although they live longer in well drained soils. They're white daisies originating from the mum family, providing cherry blooms that resemble mums. Painted daisies, which are similar to coneflowers, can also survive in clay soil.



Hostas or plantain lilies are good perennial flowers for clay soils. These perennial plants, native to Asia, produce flowers, although they're not known for their flowers, which bloom from late summer to early fall. They come in colors of white, green, yellow and blue-green. Although they can grow in clay soil, their soil must have good drainage

The Perennial Garden

Perennials
Perennials are herbaceous plants that live for more than three seasons. Perennials are the foundation upon which your garden is built. If you treat them well they will come back for several seasons and in some cases even longer.
.
Perennials offer a wide variety of form, flower and foliage and give the gardener a large palette from which to make plant selections.

Perennials for the backs of borders;
When you use a tall perennial for the back of your garden border you create a look of permanence and their majestic size catches the eye. Such as Ligularia
Ligularias are great in the back of shady beds, along borders, in bogs, or planted at the edge of water gardens. The plants prefer afternoon shade.

Perennials as Specimen Plants
Balloon Flower - Beautiful blue/purple tone bloom. Loves full sun but will do alright in some shade.
A specimen plant is a plant that is so striking that it can stand alone as a special feature in your garden.

Perennials as ground cover;
There is no reason to leave a bare spot in your garden when there are so many perennials available that make ideal ground cover.  Dianthus are easy to grow and prefer full sun, moderate climates, and rich, well drained soil

A perennial home garden is a great way to create a habitat in your backyard which will showcase color throughout the year as well as attract native wildlife to your lawn  and landscape.