Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 1.5–3 ft tall; it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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- Washington, D.C.
- Clay soil
Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Native Plants for Clay Soil in Washington, D.C.
Native plants that root happily into heavy clay — the dense, slow-draining soil that defeats so many garden-center perennials. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington, D.C. and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Washington, D.C.'s humid, four-season climate across Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line, not a generic list. Local standouts include Common Yarrow and Buttonbush. Heavy clay is actually fertile and moisture-holding; the trick is choosing plants whose deep, muscular roots can punch through it and even improve it over time. Avoid working clay when it is wet, plant a little high to keep crowns from sitting in water, and mulch to keep the surface from baking into a crust. These natives do the soil-building for you.
The plants
45 native species for Washington, D.C.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 5–10 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 25–50 ft tall; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 4–7 ft tall — it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 4–7 ft tall — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 3–5 ft tall — it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 20–30 ft tall — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2–4 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 6–10 ft tall; it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–4 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 2–4 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 3–5 ft tall — it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 3–5 ft tall — it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2.5–4 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 2–4 ft tall — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 5–10 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–3 ft tall — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 1.5–3 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 15–25 ft tall, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 2–4 ft tall; it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–2.5 ft tall, flowering as it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 3–4 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2–3 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
21 more also qualify: Trumpet Honeysuckle, Golden Alexanders, Cup Plant, Foxglove Beardtongue, Red-Twig Dogwood, Rattlesnake Master, Common Boneset, Spicebush, Ninebark, Inkberry Holly, American Elderberry, Stiff Goldenrod, Blue Vervain, Virginia Creeper, Fragrant Sumac, Common Milkweed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Indian Grass, Cinnamon Fern.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington, D.C.
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.