Choosing Plants for Clay Soil: Trees and Shrubs

Reasons to grow: This really tough little tree is a good choice if you're looking for plants for clay soil. It has a long season of interest bearing masses of double, deep pink flowers in spring, followed by small red fruits in the autumn. The shallowly lobed leaves are an attractive glossy mid green.

Also consider: C. laevigata 'Rosea Flore Pleno'.

Reasons to grow: Self fertile variety therefore it will reliably produce a good crop of bright red berries every year. The long glossy dark green leaves are virtually spineless. Cream flowers in early summer.

Reasons to grow: Deep pink buds opening to a profusion of pink flushed white flowers in late spring are followed by golden yellow fruits (which make a delicious jelly!). The dark green foliage turns an attractive yellow in autumn.

Reasons to grow: This narrowly conical ornamental pear tree makes a good specimen for a small garden. Attractive sprays of small white flowers in mid-spring are followed by round brown autumn fruits. The oval scalloped leaves are dark green and glossy and turn red before they fall. It copes well with atmospheric pollution and is a good choice for an urban garden.

Reasons to grow: Of all the plants for clay soil, this one is the most spectacular in winter with its almost glowing, bright red bark. It also has a good red autumn leaf colour.

For the very best bark colour, remove shoots close to the ground in spring to encourage the formation of new shoots for next winter's display.

Also consider: C. alba 'Kesselringii' for purplish black stems or C. sericea 'Flaviramea' for yellow stems.

Reasons to grow: Gloriously scented double lavender blue flowers opening from deep purple buds in late spring and early summer. Attractive heart shaped mid green leaves.

Also consider: Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine' for white flowers.

Reasons to grow: Abundant clusters of funnel shaped dark pink flowers in late spring and early summer. Attractive grey green leaves edged with white.