Wolcott Garden Treasures
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Dry Soil
Dry and sandy soil is particularly difficult to grow in, and topsoil and additives can only do so much. Sometimes you just have to work with what you've got! For that reason, we've compiled a list of hardy, native plants that do well in poor soil conditions.
Trees, Shrubs & Bushes
Bluejay Highbush Blueberry is a 5-7' x 5-7' blueberry bush that is robust and easy to care for. It yields an impressive crop of sizeable dark blue berries in August and its deep green foliage puts on a purplish-red fall show. Besides providing a sweet summer treat, the berries also attract tons of wildlife, and the dense foliage provides cover for many smaller animals.
Burkwood & Moonlight Scotchbroom are two varieties of a slightly needy shrub that will both grow 5-8' in height and 5-8' and 4-5' in width, respectively. While both tolerate poor soil, these delicate plants require special handling in the winter until they are well established. Planting a scotchbroom on the southern side of your house (where it will get more sun) will help keep it warmer during the deep freeze, and placing it in an area where there is as little wind as possible will help, as well. A light burlap wrap (with the top exposed to the sun) in the winter is also helpful. Once established, the shrub will be less fragile, but will always require a bit of maintenance on your part.
Red Twig and Yellow Twig Dogwoods are large, woody shrubs that will grow to 6-8' tall and 9-10' wide. Prized for their saturated red or yellow stems that dazzle the winter landscape, these varieties are easy to grow and tolerant of poor soil, cold weather and wet environments.
Sandcherry Ornamental Flowering Plum Tree - this ornamental tree will grow 7-9' tall and 5-6' wide and is extremely hardy. Small, single pink flowers will bloom before purple-red foliage flushes in late April.
Summer Wine Common Ninebark is about 2/3 the size of other Ninebark varieties we carry and will only grow to about 4-6' in height and spread. This particular variety tolerates poor soil and extreme cold. Its dense, round form is comprised of deep, reddish-purple foliage that erupts in pure white blooms in late May or early June.
Other trees, shrubs & bushes to consider: Crimson Pygmy Barberry, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus contorta), Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Mugo Pine.
Perennials & Ground Covers
Agastache (Anise Hyssop) - a super hardy choice, this aromatic, 2-3' tall perennial boasts dark green foliage and pink, blue or purple spikes, depending on the variety.
Artemisia (Wormwood) - this attractive perennial makes a lovely accent, border or container plant. With its ferny, silvery mounding foliage that will reach up to 10" high, it blends well with colorful, flowering plants.
Baptisia (False Indigo) - this long-lived, bushy perennial has abundant blue-green foliage topped by spikes of indigo blue, pea-like flowers. Our Australis variety blooms late spring to early summer and will reach 36-48" in height.
Bearberry, Kinnickinnick variety - don't judge a plant by its name! This bearberry variety is a very reliable groundcover that does best in poor soil and will grow 6-12" high and 4-6' wide. Dark green foliage turns reddish-bronze in the fall and will give way to bright red berries through the winter.
Daylily (Hemerocallis) - with dozens of varieties, this tall perennial forms grassy clumps that can range from 13-48" high, and is available in a spectrum of colors, mostly blooming in mid-summer. Amazingly, these plants are also suitable for moist conditions.
Echinacea (Coneflower) - this daisy-like perennial has a raised maroon center bordered by a number of petal colors depending on the variety. Blooms last from June or July to August or September.
Thrift (Armeria) is a low-mounding evergreen perennial that forms tufts of grass-like foliage. The maratima varieties grow 6-12" tall, while the formosa and pseudoarmeria varieties grow much taller, up to 24-30".
Veronica (Speedwell) - this low-growing, long-flowering perennial has dense flower spikes and is particularly suited for rock gardens. Available in a rainbow of colors and various bloom times, this plant will grow from 3-36" tall depending on the variety.
Yarrow (Achillea) - with over 10 varieties normally in stock, you're sure to find one that catches your eye. Depending on your selection, this aromatic, upright perennial with grow from 16 to 30" tall. Blooming in pinks, reds, whites and yellows at various times throughout the summer, yarrow lends itself as a cut flower and looks great in perennial beds and borders.
Other perennials and ground covers that do well in poor soil are: Bellflower, Coreopsis (Tickseed), Dianthus (Pinks), Festuca grass, Gaillardia, Heliopsis, Hosta, Lamium, Lavenula, Lysimachia, Nepeta (Cat mint), Panicum grass, Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder), Rudbeckia, Sedum, Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks), Stachys (Lamb's Ear).
Bluejay Highbush Blueberry is a 5-7' x 5-7' blueberry bush that is robust and easy to care for. It yields an impressive crop of sizeable dark blue berries in August and its deep green foliage puts on a purplish-red fall show. Besides providing a sweet summer treat, the berries also attract tons of wildlife, and the dense foliage provides cover for many smaller animals.Burkwood & Moonlight Scotchbroom are two varieties of a slightly needy shrub that will both grow 5-8' in height and 5-8' and 4-5' in width, respectively. While both tolerate poor soil, these delicate plants require special handling in the winter until they are well established. Planting a scotchbroom on the southern side of your house (where it will get more sun) will help keep it warmer during the deep freeze, and placing it in an area where there is as little wind as possible will help, as well. A light burlap wrap (with the top exposed to the sun) in the winter is also helpful. Once established, the shrub will be less fragile, but will always require a bit of maintenance on your part.
Red Twig and Yellow Twig Dogwoods are large, woody shrubs that will grow to 6-8' tall and 9-10' wide. Prized for their saturated red or yellow stems that dazzle the winter landscape, these varieties are easy to grow and tolerant of poor soil, cold weather and wet environments.
Sandcherry Ornamental Flowering Plum Tree - this ornamental tree will grow 7-9' tall and 5-6' wide and is extremely hardy. Small, single pink flowers will bloom before purple-red foliage flushes in late April.
Summer Wine Common Ninebark is about 2/3 the size of other Ninebark varieties we carry and will only grow to about 4-6' in height and spread. This particular variety tolerates poor soil and extreme cold. Its dense, round form is comprised of deep, reddish-purple foliage that erupts in pure white blooms in late May or early June.
Other trees, shrubs & bushes to consider: Crimson Pygmy Barberry, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus contorta), Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Mugo Pine.
Perennials & Ground Covers
Agastache (Anise Hyssop) - a super hardy choice, this aromatic, 2-3' tall perennial boasts dark green foliage and pink, blue or purple spikes, depending on the variety.
Artemisia (Wormwood) - this attractive perennial makes a lovely accent, border or container plant. With its ferny, silvery mounding foliage that will reach up to 10" high, it blends well with colorful, flowering plants.
Baptisia (False Indigo) - this long-lived, bushy perennial has abundant blue-green foliage topped by spikes of indigo blue, pea-like flowers. Our Australis variety blooms late spring to early summer and will reach 36-48" in height.
Bearberry, Kinnickinnick variety - don't judge a plant by its name! This bearberry variety is a very reliable groundcover that does best in poor soil and will grow 6-12" high and 4-6' wide. Dark green foliage turns reddish-bronze in the fall and will give way to bright red berries through the winter.
Daylily (Hemerocallis) - with dozens of varieties, this tall perennial forms grassy clumps that can range from 13-48" high, and is available in a spectrum of colors, mostly blooming in mid-summer. Amazingly, these plants are also suitable for moist conditions.
Echinacea (Coneflower) - this daisy-like perennial has a raised maroon center bordered by a number of petal colors depending on the variety. Blooms last from June or July to August or September.
Thrift (Armeria) is a low-mounding evergreen perennial that forms tufts of grass-like foliage. The maratima varieties grow 6-12" tall, while the formosa and pseudoarmeria varieties grow much taller, up to 24-30".
Veronica (Speedwell) - this low-growing, long-flowering perennial has dense flower spikes and is particularly suited for rock gardens. Available in a rainbow of colors and various bloom times, this plant will grow from 3-36" tall depending on the variety.
Yarrow (Achillea) - with over 10 varieties normally in stock, you're sure to find one that catches your eye. Depending on your selection, this aromatic, upright perennial with grow from 16 to 30" tall. Blooming in pinks, reds, whites and yellows at various times throughout the summer, yarrow lends itself as a cut flower and looks great in perennial beds and borders.Other perennials and ground covers that do well in poor soil are: Bellflower, Coreopsis (Tickseed), Dianthus (Pinks), Festuca grass, Gaillardia, Heliopsis, Hosta, Lamium, Lavenula, Lysimachia, Nepeta (Cat mint), Panicum grass, Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder), Rudbeckia, Sedum, Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks), Stachys (Lamb's Ear).
All photos c/o Wikipedia.
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