Plants for sandy soils with flower & foliage interest
Plenty of plants thrive in sandy soil, so it’s perfectly possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- Sandy soil drains very quickly, so plants can be vulnerable in drought conditions
- Sandy soil is quick to warm in spring, though cools quicker in autumn too
- Sandy soil benefits from adding plenty of organic matter like homemade garden compost or well-rotted manure
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The planting plan
This planting design, provides a range of plants that, once established, will thrive together in sandy soil and provide a variety of interest throughout the year. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
Plants for sandy soil with flowers and foliage
Choosing plants for sandy soils
The Pittosporum and Olearia provide year-round evergreen structure, along with the winter stems of the Physocarpus. The spreading Nepeta provides some groundcover, so will help reduce soil erosion, suppress weed growth and reduce water loss from the soil surface. Most of these plants will also attract vital pollinators to the garden.
Until the plants have filled out, an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, can help to lock in soil moisture and suppress weeds. This will also help to bind your grainy soil structure. Mulches should be spread when the soil is already moist to help trap some of that moisture before it dries out in summer.
1 - Pittosporum ‘Garnettii’
2 - Olearia macrodonta
3 - Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’
4 - Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’
5 - Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’
6 - Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’
2 - Olearia macrodonta combines its evergreen foliage with fragrant white daisy-like flowers borne in large clusters in summer.
3 - Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ have steely blue flowers in summer and the dried flower heads provide great autumn and winter interest if left on the plants.
4 - Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ provides a low groundcover of silvery-green scented leaves. Deep mauve-blue spikes of flowers display all summer if regularly dead-headed.
5 - Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’ forms a fairly compact dome of fragrant foliage at the front of the scheme and produces blue flowers from late summer into autumn.
6 - Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’ has purple foliage which stands out against the lighter Pittosporum and is enhanced with light pink flowers in summer.
About sandy soil
Once the plants are established, this will also reduce the need for extra inputs that less well-adapted plants would need, such as excessive water and fertiliser.
The challenge of sandy soils
Plants that enjoy good drainage are well suited to sandy soils, including many bulbs and other plants with underground buds that dislike winter wet. If your plants have adapted to naturally thrive in those conditions, they will grow much better.
Why choose a sustainable planting combination?
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