Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 2–4 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
- Home
- By state
- Pennsylvania
- Clay soil
Pennsylvania · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Clay Soil in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Pennsylvania's humid continental climate across Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Bergamot and Serviceberry. 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
49 native species for Pennsylvania
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
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
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
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 3–5 ft tall — it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 6–10 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2.5–4 ft tall; it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 5–10 ft tall — it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–4 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 3–4 ft tall, and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 5–10 ft tall; it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 5–8 ft tall — it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–2.5 ft tall — it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 3–5 ft tall, flowering as it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2–4 ft tall — it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 25–50 ft tall, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 20–30 ft tall; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 1.5–2.5 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 3–5 ft tall; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 8–15 ft tall — it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
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
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 5–8 ft tall; it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 2–4 ft tall — it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 1.5–2.5 ft tall; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–4 ft tall — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
25 more also qualify: Black-Eyed Susan, Smooth Hydrangea, Great Blue Lobelia, American Beautyberry, Common Yarrow, Spotted Joe-Pye Weed, Ninebark, Stiff Goldenrod, American Elderberry, Blue Vervain, Sideoats Grama, Virginia Creeper, Compass Plant, Inkberry Holly, Red-Twig Dogwood, Spicebush, Common Boneset, Fragrant Sumac, Rattlesnake Master, Common Milkweed, Indian Grass, Cinnamon Fern, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Pennsylvania
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.