Aster plants are perennials that have small daisy-like flowers. They will bloom towards fall and are available in a variety of pretty colors. Asters are a great plant to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Asters that do well in moist clay soil are New England Asters (Symphyotrichum Novae-Angliae), and these will grow in zones 4-8.
Another bright, colorful flower, daylilies are one of the easiest plants to grow because they can do well in any type of soil. For clay soils, adding some peat moss to the soil before planting will help the daylilies thrive. These plants grow best in zones 4-9 and require minimum care.
This plant is an evergreen shrub that can offer a burst of color to your landscape year round. While it will do well in clay and moist soils, it can succumb to root rot if the soil is too wet. Other than this, it's an easy-to-maintain shrub that likes full sun to partial shade. Unlike other evergreens, it doesn't require pruning and can also survive drought conditions. Fire Chief Arborvitae grows in zones 5-9.
Abelia Grandiflora can do well in most soil types and conditions. As a member of the honeysuckle family, dainty honeysuckle flowers will appear when the plant blooms. To encourage its best growth, you should combine your heavy clay soil with some organic matter such as sand or peat moss before planting the shrub.
This plant is an evergreen shrub that can offer a burst of color to your landscape year round. While it will do well in clay and moist soils, it can succumb to root rot if the soil is too wet. Other than this, it's an easy-to-maintain shrub that likes full sun to partial shade. Unlike other evergreens, it doesn't require pruning and can also survive drought conditions. Fire Chief Arborvitae grows in zones 5-9.
Hardy Hibiscus is just that—hardy. They can grow in heavy wet clay soil. Hardy hibiscus does prefer acidic soil, so you may need to increase the acidity of your soil before you plant them. You can do this by adding peat moss or compost and combining it with the clay soil.
Black-Eyed Susans are popular among gardeners for their tough but beautiful daisy-like flowers. They are also popular because of their ability to grow in a wide range of zones from zones 3-10. Black-Eyed Susans do not like acidic soil and prefer to grow in soil with a neutral pH, so it's probably not best to try and grow these two plants together.
Creeping Jenny does well in damp soil and will happily spread throughout your garden. Because of this, it's best if they are kept away from other plants they could damage. Clay soil is one of Creeping Jenny's preferred soil types, which makes them one of the best plants for your soil type.
Smooth Hydrangeas can do well in heavy clay as long as the water isn't hanging around in the soil too long. These plants do like consistently moist soil, but if water isn't draining enough, it can lead to some problems. When it next rains, take note of how long it takes for the water to drain.
Hostas, also referred to as Plantain Lilies, are popular because they are known for being easy to grow and reliable. They can grow in moist heavy clay soil and require little work. Amending the soil can help promote better growth from your Hostas, but they can typically tolerate the clay soil as is. If you do choose to amend your soil, one recommended product is John & Bob's Soil Optimizer.
We have truly kept the best for last with this plant. Siberian Iris plants thrive in wet, heavy clay soil. You can't find a plant more suited for your type of yard than this one. It's a beautiful flowering plant that you'll see from late spring to early summer. It will grow in zones 2-9 but may require full sun in cooler climates. Siberian Iris plants do well in neutral to slightly acidic soil and can be planted any time from spring to fall.