Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Wyoming · Zones 3–5
Native Plants for Clay Soil in Wyoming
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 Wyoming and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 3–5 — proven performers for Wyoming's cold, semi-arid, high elevation climate across Rocky Mountain montane & sagebrush steppe, not a generic list. Local standouts include Aromatic Aster and Black-Eyed Susan. 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
39 native species for Wyoming
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–3 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 5–8 ft tall, and it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 4–7 ft tall — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 20–30 ft tall — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 15–25 ft tall — 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, and it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 3–4 ft tall, and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
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
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–4 ft tall, flowering as it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 1.5–3 ft tall, and it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 3–5 ft tall, and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 3–5 ft tall, flowering as it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 3–5 ft tall, and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 2–4 ft tall; it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–2.5 ft tall — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 5–8 ft tall, flowering as it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 5–10 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 2–4 ft tall — it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 5–9 ft tall; it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 6–9 ft tall, and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 8–20 in tall, and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
15 more also qualify: Common Milkweed, Rattlesnake Master, Blue Vervain, Virginia Creeper, Stiff Goldenrod, Sideoats Grama, American Elderberry, Common Boneset, Ninebark, Showy Milkweed, Fragrant Sumac, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wyoming
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.