These plants have been selected because their preferred growing condition is clay soil. By using plants that are naturally adapted to these conditions, we can reduce the potential problems that are more likely with plants that are less well suited.

The Ajuga and Geranium provide some groundcover and will help prevent erosion of bare soil. The groundcover can also help to reduce moisture evaporation from the soil surface and suppress weed growth in summer.

Until the plants have filled out, an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, can help to lock in soil moisture and suppress weeds. Mulches should be spread when the soil is already moist to help trap some of that moisture before it dries out in summer. 

1 - Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’

2 - Viburnum ‘Eskimo’

3 - Ajuga ‘Catlin’s Giant’

4 - Geranium ‘Orion’

5 - Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’

6 - Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’

2 - Viburnum ‘Eskimo’ is a semi-evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery, dark green leaves. In mid-to-late spring, pink-tinged buds open to tubular, pure white flowers in spherical clusters.

3 - Ajuga ‘Catlin’s Giant’ is a semi-evergreen perennial forming a mat of glossy purple-brown leaves with erect spikes, up to 30cm tall, of blue flowers

4 - Geranium ‘Orion’ is a spreading perennial, which is ideal for groundcover. It has deeply-lobed leaves and masses of cup-shaped, lavender-blue flowers with purple veins and a white centre, borne over a long period in summer. 

5 - Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ is a bushy herbaceous perennial, with small heart-shaped leaves and a hazy mass of single, pale lilac-blue flowers, with a yellow central disc in early autumn.

6 - Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ displays boldly lobed, oak-like leaves that turn orange and red in autumn and large, conical panicles of double, white flowers which often show a pink flush in autumn.