Many chalky soils are shallow, very free-draining and low in fertility, but variations exist. Where there is clay present, nutrient levels may be higher and the water holding capacity greater.

Where chalky soils are deep, they can be moisture-retentive and support a wide range of plants. They will not support

These thrive in acid (or <strong>ericaceous</strong>) soil, which has a pH of less than 7 (neutral). You can measure your soil pH using a simple testing kit. Ericaceous or acid-loving plants include rhododendrons, camellias, heathers and blueberries.

The acidity/alkalinity of soil is measured on a pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14. Neutral soil has a pH of 7. Acid (or ericaceous) soil has a pH of less than 7, and the lower the pH, the more acidic the soil. You can measure your soil pH using a simple testing kit. Acid-loving (ericaceous) plants include rhododendrons, camellias, heathers and blueberries. Adding lime to soil will reduce its acidity. A slightly acidic soil of pH 6.5 is the best general-purpose pH for gardens, allowing a wide range of plants to grow.

acid soil

When planting on chalky soils it is important to first establish how deep the topsoil is. Many trees and shrubs that will tolerate

The acidity/alkalinity of soil is measured on a pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14. Neutral soil has a pH of 7. Alkaline (lime-rich) soil has a pH above 7, and the higher the pH, the more alkaline the soil. Chalky or limestone soils are alkaline. You can measure your soil pH using a simple testing kit. If you have alkaline soil, choose plants that will thrive in it – acid-loving or ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons will not. Club root disease (which affects brassicas) is less prevalent in alkaline soil.

When planting on chalky soils;

• Break up the chalk to a depth of 75cm (30in) so that plant roots can spread out and establish
• Whether bringing in new soil or improving existing soil, add plenty of well-rotted organic matter such as garden compost, composted green waste or farmyard manure
• Smaller plants get established more quickly than more mature specimens
• Mulch plants with organic matter to conserve moisture
• Attention to watering will be required for a longer period than with other soil types as plants on chalky soils may take several seasons to establish and are more prone to drying

(+)   Best grown on deep and moisture retentive soils over chalk
(gc) Ground cover plants
(v)   variegated foliage
(e)   evergreen foliage
AGM - The RHS Award of Garden Merit

Many popular species and cultivars are listed below. If you would prefer to view a full list of suitable plants for chalky and alkaline soils, try the RHS Find a Plant.

Trees

Acer campestre: Native to GB. A. negundo, A. platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus
Aesculus × carnea, A. hippocastanum (horse chestnut), A. indica
Arbutus unedo (+) (e): Native to Ireland
Carpinus betulus (common hornbeam): Native to GB and Ireland 
Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' AGM (e)
Cercis siliquastrum
Corylus avellana cultivars, C. avellana 'Contorta' AGM: Cultivars of native to GB and Ireland 
C. colurna AGM, C. maxima cultivars
Crataegus laevigata (hawthorn): Native to GB and Ireland 
Euonymus europaeus (spindle): Native to GB and Ireland 
Fagus sylvatica (common beech): Native to GB and Ireland 
Fraxinus excelsior, F. ornus (ash)
Ligustrum lucidum AGM (e)
Malus (apple, crab apple): Native to GB and Ireland 
Morus nigra (black mulberry)
Prunus (flowering cherries)
Prunus padus: Native to GB and Ireland 
Prunus spinosa: Native to GB and Ireland 
Pyrus (common pear and ornamental) (+)
Quercus robur (common oak): Native to GB and Ireland 
Sorbus aria (whitebeam):  Native to GB and Ireland S. intermedia: Native to GB

Conifers

Cedrus including C. atlantica (Atlas cedar), C. deodara AGM (Deodar cedar), C. libani AGM (Cedar of Lebanon) (e)
Chamaecyparis (+) (e)
Ginkgo biloba (+)
Juniperus communis: Native to GB and Ireland and J. × pfitzeriana (e)
Larix decidua, L. kaempferi (+)
Pinus mugo and P. nigra (e)
Taxus baccata (yew) (e): Native to GB and Ireland 
Thuja occidentalis (White cedar) , T. plicata (Western red cedar) (e)
Thujopsis dolobrata (e)

Shrubs

Aucuba japonica (e)
Berberis
Brachyglottis Dunedin Group 'Drysdale', B. Dunedin Group 'Sunshine' AGM, B. monroi,
B Walberton's Silver Dormouse = 'Walbrach' AGM (e)
Buddleja davidii cultivars, B. fallowiana var. alba AGM, B. globosa AGM, B. lindleyana, B. × weyeriana
Caragana arborescens
Ceanothus including C. 'Autumnal Blue' AGM, C. 'Dark Star' AGM, C. 'Concha' AGM,
C. 'Pershore Zanzibar' (v), C. 'Puget Blue' AGM, C. thrysiflorus var. repens AGM (e)
Ceratostigma including C. willmottianum Forest Blue = 'Lice' AGM, C. plumbagnoides (gc)
Cistus including C. × argenteus 'Peggy Sammons', C. creticus, C. × dansereaui 'Decumbens' AGM,
C. laurifolius, C. monspeliensis, C. × pulverulentus 'Sunset' AGM, C. × purpureus (e)
Choisya × dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl' AGM, C. ternata AGM, C. ternata Sundance = 'Lich' AGM
Colutea arborescens
Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Cornus 'Midwinter Fire': Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Cytisus
Cornus mas
Cotoneaster
Deutzia
Dipelta floribunda AGM, D. ventricosa
Elaeagnus angustifolia, E. commutata, E. 'Quicksilver'
Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Euonymus fortunei cultivars (gc), E. japonicus cultivars (e)
Forsythia 'Fiesta' (v), F. × intermedia 'Lynwood Variety' AGM, F. suspensa
Fuchsia
Genista lydia
Genista pilosa 'Procumbens' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
× Halimiocistus sahucii AGM (gc), × H. wintonensis 'Merrist Wood Cream' AGM (e)
Halimium calycinum, H. lasianthum, H. 'Susan' AGM (e)
Hibiscus syriacus, H. sinosyriacus
Hypericum
Laurus nobilis (+) (e)
Lavandula (e)
Ligustrum japoniucm, L. ovalifolium, L. quihoui (e)
Lonicera nitida, L. pileata (e)
Mahonia aquifolium, M. × media (+) (e)
Olearia (e)
Paeonia delavayi
Potentilla fruticosa: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Pyracantha including P. coccinea 'Red Column', P. 'Orange Glow' AGM, P. 'Teton' AGM (e)
Rhus glabra, R. typhina 'Dissecta' AGM (+)
Ribes laurifolium, R. odoratum, R. sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet', R.speciosum
Romneya coulteri AGM
Rosmarinus officinalis (e)
Rubus biflorus AGM, R.cockburnianus 'Goldenvale' AGM, R. lineatus, R. spectabilis 'Olympic Double',
R. thibetanus 'Silver Fern'
Sambucus nigra: Native to GB and Ireland, S racemosa 'Sutherland Gold' 
Santolina chamaecyparissus, S. pinnata subsp.neapolitana AGM. S. rosmarinifolia (e)
Sarcococca confusa AGM, S. hookeriana var. digyna, S. ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon's Gate' AGM (e)
Spartium junceum
Spiraea 'Arguta' AGM, S.japonica 'Anthony Waterer' (v), S. japonica 'Goldflame',
S. japonica Magic Carpet = 'Walbuma' AGM (v), S. nipponica 'Snowmound' AGM
Syringa (lilac)
Tamarix parviflora AGM, T. ramosissima 'Pink Cascade' AGM, T. tetrandra AGM
Teucrium fruticans, T. × lucidrys (e)
Veronica (e)
Viburnum (most)
Viburnum lantana: Native to GB
Viburnum opulus 'Compactum' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Viburnum opulus 'Xanthocarpum' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Vinca difformis, V. major,
V. minor (gc) (e): Archaeophyte of GB and Ireland
Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' AGM
Vinca minor 'Bowles' Variety' AGM 
Weigela florida, W. middendorfiana, W. praecox
Yucca filamentosa, Y. flaccida (e)

Climbers and wall shrubs

Actinidia kolomikta AGM, A.deliciosa (Kiwi fruit)
Akebia × pentaphylla, A. quinata, A. trifoliata
Clematis
Cotoneaster atropurpureus 'Variegatus' AGM, C. horizontalis
Fremontodendron 'California Glory' AGM (e)
Hedera (ivy) (e)
Hedera helix 'Glacier' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Hedera helix 'Goldchild' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Jasminum beesianum, J. nudiflorum AGM, J. officinale cultivars (jasmine)
Lonicera periclymenum (honeysuckle) (+)
Parthenocissus henryana (Chinese Virginia creeper), P. quinquifolia (Virginia creeper),
P. tricuspidata (Boston ivy)
Passiflora caerulea AGM
Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' AGM, S. laxum 'Album' AGM
Trachelospermum asiaticum AGM, T. jasminoides AGM (e)
Vitis (ornamental vines)

Herbaceous perennials

Acanthus mollis, A. spinosus
Achillea
Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group 'Brunette' AGM
Adenophora bulleyana
Agapanthus
Agastache
Alstroemeria
Anchusa azurea 'Lodden Royalist'
Anemone nemerosa: Native to GB and Ireland
Anemone nemerosa 'Robinsoniana' AGM: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Anemone hupehensis, A. × hybrida
Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana AGM, A. tinctoria 'E.C. 'Buxton', A. tinctoria 'Sauce Hollandaise'
Aquilegia
Armeria, including Armeria maritima: Native to GB and Ireland
Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrook Silver', A. arborescens AGM, A. lactiflora Guizhou Group
Aster  
Astilbe
Ballota pseudodictamnus AGM (e)
Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby', B. cilliata, B. 'Morgenrote' AGM, B. 'Overture' (e)
Calendula officinalis (Pot marigold)
Campanula glomerata 'Superba' AGM, C. 'Kent Belle' AGM, C. lactiflora 'Pritchards Variety' AGM
Catanache caerulea 'Major' AGM
Centaurea, including Centaurea scabiosa: Native to GB and Ireland, and C. nigra: Native to GB and Ireland
Centranthus ruber
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'
Chelone obliqua
Convallaria majalis (gc)
Coreopsis
Corydalis
Crambe cordifolia AGM
Crocosmia
Cynara cardunculus AGM (cardoon), C. cardunculus  Scolymus Group (artichoke)
Cynoglossum
Delphinium
Dianthus, including Dianthus deltoides AGM: Native to GB and Ireland
Dicentra
Digitalis
Doronicum
Echinacea
Echinops
Eremurus
Erigeron
Erodium
Eryngium
Erysimum
Eupatorium
Euphorbia, including Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae AGM: Variety of a native to GB
Gaillardia
Galega
Gaura
Gazania
Geranium, including: Geranium sanguineum: Native to GB and Ireland (plus cultivars) and Geranium pratense: Native to GB and Ireland (plus cultivars)
Geum
Helenium
Helianthus
Helleborus, including Helleborus foetidus AGM: Native to GB
Hemerocallis
Heuchera
Hosta 
Inula
Iris, including Iris foetidissima AGM: Native to GB
Knautia, Including: Knautia arvensis: Native to GB and Ireland
Kniphofia
Lavatera
Leucanthemum, including Leucanthemum vulgare: Native to GB and Ireland
Liatris
Limonium
Linum, including: Linum perenne: Native to GB
Lobelia
Lychnis - see Silene
Macleaya
Malva including Malva alcea and Malva moschata f. alba
Marrubium
Mimulus
Monarda
Morina
Nepeta
Oenothera
Origanum, including Origanum vulgare: Native to GB and Ireland (plus cultivars)
Paeonia lactiflora
Papaver
Penstemon
Persicaria
Phlomis
Physalis
Physostegia
Platycodon
Polemonium
Polygonatum
Potentilla, including Potentilla fruticosa: Native to GB and Ireland (plus cultivars)
Pulsatilla, including Pulsatilla vulgaris AGM: Native to GB and Ireland 
Pyrethrum
Rudbeckia
Saponaria
Salvia
Scabiosa, including Scabiosa columbaria: Native to GB and Ireland
Sedum
Sidalcea
Silene, Including Silene flos-cuculi: Native to GB and Ireland and Silene dioica ‘Rollie’s Favourite’: Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Solidago
Thalictrum
Tiarella
Tradescantia
Trollius
Verbascum
Verbena, including Verbena officinalis ‘Bampton’: Cultivar of Archaeophyte to GB and Ireland
Veronica, including: Veronica spicata ‘Rotfuchs’ : Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland 
Viola, including: Viola odorata 'Wellsiana' AGM: Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland 
Zauschneria