MBG Home Horticulture MBG Search

Quick Links
Home Page
Highlights
PlantFinder
PF Search
Pests
Plants of Merit
Master Search
 
Searches
GardeningHelp
Titles
PlantFinder
Pest Images
Bloom Data
Scientific name

 

ProblemSolver Plants: Plants for Shallow, Rocky Soil


The following plants are suggestions for growing in areas where soils are shallow, rocky and usually droughty. In Missouri these soils can be very shallow over a layer of rock, typically called a glade, or surround residential homes in natural, hilly or foresred areas where soil is shallow. Typically, these locations may be in open, sunny areas without irrigation but can also be in shady, forested areas. Soil type, soil pH and the duration of droughts will affect plant performance. It is best to try a variety of plants to see which perform best in your specific conditions.

Plants for Dry Shade

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Deciduous shrubs Staphylea trifolia bladdernut
Ferns Polypodium virginianum American wall fern
  Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Herbaceous perennials Aster divaricatus aster
  Aster divaricatus 'Eastern Star' white wood aster
  Bergenia cordifolia pigsqueak
  Epimedium alpinum bishop's hat
  Epimedium diphyllum bishop's hat
  Helleborus orientalis hellebore
  Lamium galeobdolon yellow archangel
  Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum 'Florentinum' yellow archangel
  Monarda bradburyana eastern beebalm
  Silene caroliniana wild pink
  Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort
  Vinca minor lesser periwinkle
  Vinca minor 'Honeydew' lesser periwinkle
Trees Ptelea trifoliata hop tree

Plant for Dry Sun

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Delosperma cooperi ice plant
  Thymophylla tenuiloba Dahlberg daisy
Broadleaf evergreens Yucca filamentosa Adam's needle
  Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' Adam's needle
  Yucca filamentosa 'Variegata' yucca
Bulbs Allium cernuum nodding onion
Deciduous shrubs Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea
  Philadelphus microphyllus 'June Bride' mock orange
  Physocarpus opulifolius ninebark
  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Center Glow' ninebark
  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold' ninebark
  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' ninebark
  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Mindia' COPPERTINA ninebark
  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Nanus' ninebark
  Rhus aromatica fragrant sumac
  Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' fragrant sumac
  Rhus chinensis Chinese sumac
  Rhus copallina dwarf sumac
  Rhus glabra smooth sumac
  Rhus typhina staghorn sumac
  Rhus typhina 'Dissecta' staghorn sumac
  Robinia hispida rose acacia
Herbaceous perennials Achillea ptarmica (The Pearl Group) sneezewort
  Achillea tomentosa 'Aurea' wooly yarrow
  Allium stellatum prairie onion
  Alyssum murale yellow tuft
  Anemone virginiana thimbleweed
  Antennaria plantaginifolia pussytoes
  Arabis alpina subsp. caucasica mountain rockcress
  Armeria maritima sea thrift
  Armeria maritima 'Düsseldorfer Stolz' DUSSELDORF PRIDE thrift
  Armeria maritima 'Little Penny' thrift
  Armeria maritima 'Rubrifolia' sea thrift
  Armeria 'Nifty Thrifty' sea thrift
  Artemisia afra mugwort
  Asclepias purpurascens purple milkweed
  Asclepias syriaca common milkweed
  Asclepias tuberosa pleurisy root
  Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow' butterfly weed
  Aster ericoides heath aster
  Aster ericoides 'Blue Star' heath aster
  Aster ericoides f. prostratus 'Snow Flurry' heath aster
  Aster laevis smooth aster
  Aster laevis 'Bluebird' smooth aster
  Aster linariifolius stiff aster
  Aster oblongifolius aromatic aster
  Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' aromatic aster
  Aurinia saxatilis basket-of-gold
  Aurinia saxatilis 'Dudley Nevill Variegated' basket of gold
  Baptisia australis blue false indigo
  Baptisia australis var. minor blue false indigo
  Calamintha nepeta calamint
  Callirhoe bushii poppy mallow
  Callirhoe involucrata purple poppy mallow
  Centaurea pulcherrima centaurea
  Cerastium tomentosum snow-in-summer
  Cerastium tomentosum 'Yo Yo' snow-in-summer
  Coreopsis grandiflora 'Domino' large-flowered tickseed
  Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' large-flowered tickseed
  Coreopsis grandiflora 'Mayfield Giant' large-flowered tickseed
  Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sundancer' large-flowered tickseed
  Coreopsis grandiflora 'Walcoreop' FLYING SAUCERS large-flowered tickseed
  Coreopsis lanceolata tickseed
  Coreopsis lanceolata 'Summer Sprite' tickseed
  Coreopsis major greater tickseed
  Coreopsis palmata tickseed
  Coreopsis pubescens 'Sunshine Superman' tickseed
  Coreopsis 'Sonnenkind' BABY SUN tickseed
  Coreopsis 'Sunburst' tickseed
  Coreopsis 'Sunray' tickseed
  Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise' tickseed
  Coreopsis tripteris tickseed
  Coreopsis verticillata threadleaf coreopsis
  Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Gain' threadleaf coreopsis
  Coreopsis verticillata 'Grandiflora' threadleaf coreopsis
  Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' threadleaf coreopsis
  Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' threadleaf coreopsis
  Cunila origanoides American dittany
  Desmanthus illinoensis prairie bundleflower
  Echinacea pallida pale purple coneflower
  Echinacea paradoxa yellow coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Avalanche' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Coconut Lime' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Cygnet White' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Finale White' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Hope' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Mop Head' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Leuchtstern' BRIGHT STAR purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Ovation' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Pica Bella' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Frost' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Giant' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Razzmatazz' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' RUBY STAR purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Giant' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'The King' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'Vintage Wine' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'White Lustre' purple coneflower
  Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' purple coneflower
  Echinacea 'Sunrise' BIG SKY SUNRISE purple coneflower
  Echinops sphaerocephalus 'Arctic Glow' great globe thistle
  Eryngium variifolium eryngo
  Eryngium yuccifolium rattlesnake-master
  Erysimum capitatum coastal wallflower
  Euphorbia cyparissias cypress spurge
  Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' spurge
  Euphorbia myrsinites spurge
  Geranium cinereum 'Janette' hardy geranium
  Geranium cinereum 'Purple Pillow' cranesbill
  Glandularia canadensis rose verbena
  Goniolimon incanum 'Blue Diamond' sea lavender
  Helianthus maximiliani Maximilian sunflower
  Helianthus occidentalis sunflower
  Heliopsis 'Helhan' LORAINE SUNSHINE ox-eye daisy
  Heliopsis helianthoides oxeye sunflower
  Heliopsis helianthoides 'Prairie Sunset' false sunflower
  Heliopsis helianthoides 'Tuscan Sun' ox-eye daisy
  Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Goldgefieder' GOLDEN PLUME ox eye
  Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Sommersonne' SUMMER SUN ox eye
  Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Spitzentanzerin' BALLERINA ox-eye daisy
  Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Venus' oxeye sunflower
  Hylotelephium 'Blade Runner' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium 'Carl' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' AUTUMN JOY stonecrop
  Hylotelephium 'Lajos' AUTUMN CHARM stonecrop
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Autumn Fire' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Brilliant' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Indian Chief' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Meteor' showy stonecrop
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Neon' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Ruby Jewel' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust' hylotelephium
  Hylotelephium 'Sunset Cloud' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium telephium 'Blackjack' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium telephium 'Matrona' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium telephium 'Mohrchen' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium telephium 'Samuel Oliphant' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium telephium subsp. ruprechtii 'Hab Gray' stonecrop
  Hylotelephium 'Vera Jameson' stonecrop
  Hyssopus officinalis hyssop
  Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' English lavender
  Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' English lavender
  Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' lavandin
  Lespedeza capitata bush clover
  Liatris aspera blazing star
  Liatris ligulistylis blazing star
  Liatris ligulistylis 'Monarch' button snake root
  Liatris scariosa blazing star
  Limonium platyphyllum sea lavender
  Linum perenne perennial flax
  Lychnis coronaria rose campion
  Lychnis coronaria 'Blych' GARDENERS' WORLD rose campion
  Lychnis viscaria 'Splendens Plena' catchfly
  Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Orange Zwerg' ORANGE DWARF catchfly
  Manfreda virginica false aloe
  Monarda bradburyana eastern beebalm
  Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot
  Nepeta racemosa 'Blue Wonder' nepeta
  Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' catmint
  Nepeta sibirica 'Souvenir d'André Chaudron' nepeta
  Nepeta subsessilis nepeta
  Nepeta subsessilis 'Candy Cat' nepeta
  Nepeta subsessilis var. sensibilis nepeta
  Nepeta x faassenii nepeta
  Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Cat' nepeta
  Nepeta x faassenii 'Select Blue' nepeta
  Oenothera fremontii 'Lemon Silver' evening primrose
  Oenothera fruticosa 'Fyrverkeri' sundrops
  Oenothera macrocarpa Missouri evening primrose
  Origanum 'Hot and Spicy' oregano
  Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' marjoram
  Origanum laevigatum 'Silver Anniversary' marjoram
  Origanum 'Norton Gold' marjoram
  Origanum vulgare oregano
  Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' oregano
  Parthenium integrifolium wild quinine
  Penstemon barbatus bearded penstemon
  Penstemon barbatus 'Elfin Pink' bearded penstemon
  Penstemon barbatus 'Jingle Bells' bearded penstemon
  Penstemon barbatus subsp. coccineus bearded penstemon
  Penstemon cobaea dew flower
  Penstemon cobaea var. purpureus dew flower
  Phlox bifida sand phlox
  Pulsatilla patens eastern pasque flower
  Pycnanthemum tenuifolium slender mountain mint
  Rudbeckia fulgida black-eyed Susan
  Rudbeckia fulgida 'Blovi' VIETTE'S LITTLE SUZY black-eyed Susan
  Rudbeckia missouriensis Missouri coneflower
  Ruellia humilis wild petunia
  Ruta graveolens rue
  Salvia azurea blue sage
  Salvia azurea 'Nekan' blue sage
  Salvia azurea var. grandiflora blue sage
  Salvia officinalis common sage
  Salvia officinalis 'Aurea' common sage
  Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten' common sage
  Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens' common sage
  Salvia officinalis 'Sage of Bath' common sage
  Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' common sage
  Salvia verticillata lilac sage
  Salvia verticillata 'Alba' lilac sage
  Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' lilac sage
  Saponaria officinalis 'Flore Pleno' soapwort
  Saponaria x lempergii 'Max Frei' soapwort
  Satureja montana winter savory
  Scutellaria ovata heart-leaved skullcap
  Sedum album 'Coral Carpet' white stonecrop
  Sedum album subsp. teretifolium 'Murale' white stonecrop
  Sedum erythrostictum 'Frosty Morn' stonecrop
  Sedum erythrostictum 'Mediovariegatum' stonecrop
  Sedum 'Garnet Brocade' stonecrop
  Sedum 'Hopewell' sedum
  Sedum kamtschaticum var. ellacombeanum orange stonecrop
  Sedum kamtschaticum var. floriferum 'Weihenstephaner Gold' orange stonecrop
  Sedum 'Purple Emperor' stonecrop
  Sedum 'Rosy Glow' sedum
  Sedum rupestre stonecrop
  Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' stonecrop
  Sedum spurium 'Album Superbum' Caucasian stonecrop
  Sedum spurium 'Bronze Carpet' Caucasian stonecrop
  Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut' Caucasian stonecrop
  Sedum spurium 'John Creech' Caucasian stonecrop
  Sedum spurium 'Voodoo' stonecrop
  Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef' Chinese sedum
  Sempervivum tectorum house leek
  Silene caroliniana wild pink
  Silene dioica 'Clifford Moor' red campion
  Silene regia royal catchfly
  Silene uniflora 'Robin Whitebreast' campion
  Silene virginica fire pink
  Silene vulgaris bladder campion
  Solidago cutleri 'Goldrush' goldenrod
  Solidago drummondii goldenrod
  Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece' goldenrod
  Stachys byzantina lambs' ears
  Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' lamb's ear
  Stachys byzantina 'Primrose Heron' lamb's ears
  Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' lamb's ears
  Stachys byzantina 'Striped Phantom' lamb's ears
  Symphyotrichum oolentangiense blue devils
  Talinum calycinum fameflower
  Thymus herba-barona caraway thyme
  Thymus 'Orange Balsam' thyme
  Thymus praecox thyme
  Thymus praecox 'Minus' thyme
  Thymus pseudolanuginosus woolly thyme
  Thymus serpyllum wild thyme
  Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz' wild thyme
  Thymus vulgaris thyme
  Thymus vulgaris 'Argenteus' thyme
  Thymus x citriodorus lemon thyme
  Thymus x citriodorus 'Lime' lemon thyme
  Thymus x citriodorus 'Silver Queen' lemon thyme
  Tradescantia bracteata spiderwort
  Verbascum chaixii 'Album' nettle-leaved mullein
  Verbascum chaixii 'Sixteen Candles' nettle-leaved mullein
  Verbena stricta hoary vervain
  Verbesina helianthoides crown beard
  Vernonia baldwinii western ironweed
  Veronica liwanensis speedwell
  Viola pedata bird's foot violet
  X Pardancanda norrisii 'Dazzler' pardancanda
  X Pardancanda 'Violet Stitches' candy lily
Needled evergreens Juniperus virginiana red cedar
Ornamental grasses Bouteloua curtipendula sideoats grass
  Bouteloua gracilis blue grama
  Festuca glauca blue fescue
  Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' blue fescue
  Festuca glauca 'Golden Toupee' blue fescue
  Koeleria argentea silver hairgrass
  Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem
  Schizachyrium scoparium 'Glaucum' little bluestem
  Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues' little bluestem
  Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass
  Sorghastrum nutans 'Bluebird' Indian grass
  Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' Indian grass
  Sorghastrum nutans 'Sioux Blue' Indian grass
  Sporobolus heterolepis prairie dropseed
Trees Diospyros virginiana persimmon
  Prunus virginiana chokecherry
  Quercus alba white oak
  Quercus stellata post oak
  Sideroxylon lanuginosum chittamwood
  Ulmus parvifolia 'Dynasty' Chinese elm
Vines Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston ivy
  Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Fenway Park' Boston ivy
  Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Ginza Lights' Boston ivy
  Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Lowii' Boston ivy

Plants for Wet Shade

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' creeping Jenny
Deciduous shrubs Hydrangea arborescens smooth hydrangea

Plants for Wet Sun

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' creeping Jenny
Herbaceous perennials Salvia lyrata cancer weed
Sedges Carex elata tufted sedge

© Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001-2009