Plants for chalky soil with pink and red flowers

Plenty of plants, of a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, thrive in the higher pH of chalky soil so it's possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions

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Many plants thrive in chalky soils
Many plants thrive in chalky soils

Quick facts

  • Chalky or limey soils can benefit from the addition of plenty of organic matter to improve water retention
  • Many plants are not pH sensitive
  • Chalky soils tend to drain quickly, even in wet weather, so can be good for Mediterranean plants

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The planting plan

James Lawrence, RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor, has designed this simple, attractive, and most importantly, sustainable, border design for you to try at home with plants that are easy to grow, widely available and look good together.
This pink and red planting design, provides a range of plants that once established, will thrive in alkaline, chalky or limey soil, while still providing a variety of interest throughout the year. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.

Chalky soil, pink and red

© James Lawrence

Choosing plants for chalky soil

These plants have been selected because their preferred growing condition is alkaline soil. By using plants that are naturally adapted to these conditions, we can reduce the potential problems that are more likely with plants which are less well suited.
The Geum and Heuchera provide some groundcover and will help prevent erosion of bare soil. The groundcover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and suppress weed growth. Additional organic mulching can further improve soil moisture retention and weed suppression.
Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ 
Deutzia x hybrida ‘Mont Rose’ 
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ 
Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ 
Anemone hupehensis var japonica ‘Praecox’
Syringa pubescens subsp microphyllus ‘Superba’ 
1 - Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ creates structure through all seasons with large, leathery evergreen leaves heavily spotted and blotched with deep yellow. The flowers are small, dark purple and are followed on this female variety, by bright red berries.
2 - Deutzia x hybrida ‘Mont Rose’ is a medium-sized deciduous shrub with clusters of light purple-pink star-shaped flowers in early summer.
3 - Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ has semi-evergreen mounds of leaves, marbled silver-green with burgundy veins edged with green. Pale pink flowers are held high in late spring.
4 - Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ has bright orange-red flowers with golden yellow stamens in the centre, in late spring-early summer.
5 - Anemone hupehensis var japonica ‘Praecox’  is an erect herbaceous perennial with bowl-shaped red-purple flowers in late summer and autumn.
6 - Syringa pubescens subsp microphylla ‘Superba’ has deciduous, dark green leaves and upright sprays of fragrant rosy-pink flowers in late spring to early summer.

About alkaline, chalky soils

Alkaline soil is common in areas of the country with a lot of chalk or limestone. By choosing plants which are well-suited to chalky or limey soils, you can keep your border looking good and growing well because, planted in the right place, plants tend to be stronger and more naturally resistant to pests and disease. Also, once established this will reduce the need for extra water and fertilisers that less well-adapted plants would need.

The challenge of growing on chalky soils

Chalky soils can be very quick-draining so have the same issues as sandy soils in that respect. However the most important thing to bear in mind is that the high pH can make some minerals ‘lock up’ in the soil, leaving the plant struggling to grow. However if your plants have adapted to naturally thrive in those conditions, they will grow much better. 

Why choose a sustainable planting combination

Using the ethos of 'right plant, right place' to create a sustainable planting combination, is great for the environment. It helps avoid waste and the use of products and practices needed to try and help ailing plants, such as the application of fertiliser. It also creates robust, long-lived planting that benefits soil health and garden biodiversity.

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