13 Plants That Grow—and Thrive

Echinaceas in high line. New York. — Photo: CARMEN AGULLO MOLLA / Getty Images

Read most plant labels, and you'll get the impression that the majority of plants need well-draining soil with plenty of nutrients to grow. Yet many plants in their native habitat grow in what would be considered less than optimal conditions—and guess what? They still thrive. Although a lot of plants prefer or need nutrient-rich soils to reach their full potential, there are plenty of plants that flourish in what is considered poor or low-quality soil—generally defined as soil lacking in nutrients and microorganisms.

"Plants grow all over the world in almost every conceivable soil type," says Kelly Norris, horticulturist and author of New Naturalism and the forthcoming Your Natural Garden. "The challenge for gardeners is understanding how to adapt to the soils they have, which can at first seem limiting." His recommendation for changing your viewpoint? "Adopt an attitude for creating a garden that can thrive where you grow," he says. "The options are almost always more plentiful than they first seem."

Knowing the type of soil you have in your garden is the first step to figuring out what will grow well and thrive. Next, you'll need to learn about the many plants that can do well in poor-quality soil. To that end, we spoke to Norris and other gardening experts about which plants to choose if your soil is less than perfect. The following plants, from bee balm and lavender to coneflower, will flourish in your garden, regardless of soil quality.

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Bee Balm

A native North American wildflower, bee balm (Monarda didyma), also known as wild bergamot, is a plant that can grow almost anywhere. "Bee balm is a terrific choice for poor-quality soils," says Kathy Jentz, author of Groundcover Revolution. Want to know just how hardy bee balm is? "I have some growing in my 'hell strip'—the narrow strip of ground between the sidewalk and street—where the soil is exposed to road pollutants, salt spray, and is generally compacted from years of heavy foot traffic," she says.

Zones: 3 to 9
Mature Size: 10 to 48 inches tall x 10 to 36 inches wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full sun

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Bluestar

These blooms look like blue stars, giving them their common name for this genus of Amsonia flowers. These pretty flowers can handle all types of soil. "The genus runs the gamut from species that grow in the southwestern desert to those that grow on the southern plains," says Kelly Norris, horticulturist and author of New Naturalism and the forthcoming Your Natural Garden. "Deep taproots ensure long-lived, durable plants once established."

Zones: 3 to 11
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Care Requirements: Partial shade to full sun; chalky, clay, sandy, or loamy soil

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Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a native plant in North America and produces small bright orange flowers in clusters. Norris says it has a range of distinct ecotypes that occur and can grow in many types of soil, including clay and sand.

Zones: 3 to 9
Mature Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 1.5 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full sun

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Common Yarrow

Yarrow plant in bloom — Catherine McQueen/Getty Images

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has tiny white flowers that grow in clusters with feathery leaves. "Yarrow is a great native plant that will grow well in poor soil in a sunny spot," says Jen McGuinness, author of Bird-Friendly Gardening: Guidance and Projects for Supporting Birds in Your Landscape. Norris says it's a great option for sandy or gravel soils and it can even do well in clay soil. "Common yarrow grows in a wide array of conditions around the world," says Norris. To give you an idea of how hardy yarrow is, Norris says he has "actually seen common yarrow blooming on a decommissioned copper mine road in Colorado, a virtual moonscape where few other plants can survive."

Another important benefit of growing common yarrow is its ability to attract good bugs. "Flat clusters of flowers attract beneficial insects like native ladybugs and hoverflies [and act as] a larval host plant to the Painted Lady Butterfly," says Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation.

Zones: 3 to 9
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full sun to part shade, loamy or sandy soil

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Daylily

Many gardeners are fond of the daylily because it's easy to grow, can manage in droughts or high temperatures, and offers a range of hues. "Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) is one plant that I like to put in poor soils because it is so tolerant of them," says Jentz. "It may flower a bit better in ideal situations, but in less-than-ideal soils, it still puts on a show."

Zones: 3 to 10
Mature Size: 6 inches to 5 feet tall by x 2 to 4 feet wide
Care Requirements: Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade; manages in sandy or clay soil.

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False Indigo

A large perennial that is part of the legume family, false indigo (Baptisia australis) produces multiple small flowers on the same stem. "Like many deeply tap-rooted legumes, false indigos thrive in a wide range of soils," says Norris. "The market is full of species and hybrids that provide plentiful planting options for gardeners in the eastern half of the U.S."

Zones: 3 to 9
Mature Size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full sun

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Goldenrod

With long stems featuring a plethora of yellow flowers, goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is a wonderful native flower to grow in the garden. "[Goldenrod] provides late-season nectar for a variety of pollinators, including migrating monarch butterflies," says McGuinness. "These plants are exuberant growers and can spread, so give them room to grow or be ready to pull self-seeded volunteers in following years."

Zones: 4 to 8
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full to partial sun

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Coneflower

Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are a hardy plant native to eastern North America. They come in a range of colors, though you'll often find pinkish-purple blooms with their petals facing downwards. "Purple coneflower tolerates clay and sandy soils," says Phillips. She adds they have low-nutrient needs and are drought-tolerant. These flowers can tolerate poor soil, but they need full sun for big, showy blooms, according to McGuinness. She says to avoid overly acidic soil as that makes it difficult for the plant to thrive. Phillips adds that over time, the "decomposition of fibrous roots adds nutrients to the soil."

Zones: 3 to 8
Mature Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial shade to full sun

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Lavender

A fragrant perennial, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a compact shrub that produces purple flowers that attract pollinators. "Lavender can do well in 'lean' soils," says Jentz. "Most Mediterranean herbs, such as lavender, are adapted to living in soils that have low-nutrient availability."

Zones: 5a to 9a
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full sun

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New England Aster

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a perennial that does well in poor soil and provides important nectar in the fall for many pollinators, says McGuinness. She suggests providing plenty of space for them to grow. They can also manage in clay soil.

Zones: 4 to 8
Mature Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full sun

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Rosemary

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a hardy herb that is drought-tolerant and has light purple flowers when in bloom. It's native to the Mediterranean region and has adapted to harsh conditions, normally growing in rocky, infertile soil, says Linda Vater of the Southern Living Plant Collection.

Zones: 8 to 10
Mature Size: 2 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full sun

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Slender Mountain Mint

Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is native to North America and attracts plenty of pollinators. This mint stands out with its silvery green leaves and fragrant pink blooms. Mountain mint has a shallow root system and according to Phillips, it "can access limited nutrients and moisture near the surface." She adds that mint can grow in clay, sandy, or loamy soil that is dry, medium, or moist.

Zones: 2 to 8
Mature Size: 1.5 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full to partial sun

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Sweet Viburnum

Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) has numerous varieties, including shrubs and small trees, so you're bound to find one that fits with your gardening needs. Vater recommends the hybrid variety, Coppertop Sweet Viburnum, because it's adaptable and resilient. "It can tolerate most types of soil including sandy and clay soils [and] doesn't require rich soil to thrive," she says.