Washington Native Plant Society: Starflower Image Herbarium

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Native Plants for Clay Soils

	*Acer macrophyllum* Big-leaf Maple A tree with a large, often multi-stemmed trunk and a loose, broad crown of large leaves. Height: 65-100 feet (20-30 meters) tall with trunk 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters)diameter.
	*Alnus rubra* Red Alder A fast-growing deciduous tree well suited to disturbed sites. Fixes nitrogen, can flourish in poor soils. Height: Up to 80 feet (25 meters).
	*Caltha biflora* Marsh Marigold Perennial herb with large white flowers held above broadly rounded leaves; grows in wet subalpine meadows. Height: 16 inches (40 cm).
	*Caltha palustris* yellow marsh marigold Large yellow flowers top this creeping, perennial, semi-aquatic herb. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm).
	*Equisetum arvense* Field Horsetail Succulent, hollow, jointed stems with whorls of branches. Height: 6-24 inches (15-60 cm).
	*Grindelia integrifolia* Entire-leaved Gumweed Seaside perennial with sticky heads of yellow flowers. Can tolerate nutrient-poor, clay-like soils. Height: Can grow up to 32 inches (80 cm) in height.
	*Lysichiton americanum* Skunk Cabbage A wetland plant with very large waxy erect leaves and yellow flower spikes enclosed in a large yellow sheath. Common in wet soils under cedar trees. Height: 1-5 feet (30-150 cm).
	*Scirpus maritimus* Seacoast Bulrush
	*Thuja plicata* Western Red Cedar Large conifer with branches that droop and then turn back up (J-shaped), broad crowns. Prefers nutrient rich soils with poor drainage. Height: 100-230 feet (30-70 meters).
	*Xerophyllum tenax* Beargrass Forms a tall grass-like clump of tough leaves topped by a large dense cluster of white flowers. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Height: 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters).

The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.