Native Plants That Do Well in Poor Soils

Indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Our homes contain a host of invisible toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, which can hurt our lungs and overall health with constant exposure. While air-purifying plants can be the perfect solution to make your home breathable again, they still can help!

High humidity is one of the Southeast’s cornerstones, right there with country music and sweet tea. While gardeners have learned to wear its dewy sheen like a badge of honor, humidity can take a toll on the plants in our gardens. Fungus and disease can run rampant without proper airflow, and arid-loving perennials like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10) and Russian sage (Salvia yangii syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia, Zones 5–9) can simply melt away in our wet summers. If you’re struggling to find plants that will not only tolerate high humidity but thrive in it, start with these plants.

Chances are, you’ve got mixed conditions in your garden. One area might be in full sun, while another spot a bit farther away is in full shade. Even beds that have the same exposure on paper may have larger plants that shade out the ground below. This presents a challenge for developing a cohesive look within a landscape. As gardeners, we’ve been taught that repetition is one of the tenets of good garden design. But how can one repeat groupings of a plant throughout a border that stretches from bright light to dappled shade? The answer is by utilizing plants that are highly adaptable and will thrive in both sun and shade. In today’s episode we’re singing the praises of these flexible species. They are invaluable assets to the landscape and, as a bonus, will hold their own when the light conditions of a garden inevitably change over time.    

The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and textures. 

These fascinating plants have an incredible ability to release oxygen around the clock through a process called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). At night, they breathe in carbon dioxide, while during the day, use stored CO2 to produce fresh oxygen for us to breathe!

Name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Kolpinbel’

Name: Cornus kousa var. chinensis

Name: Mahonia repens syn. Berberis repens

Name: Pycnanthemum albescens

Want to turn your yard into a bee haven? Our Bee Friendly Plants guide will show you the Best Plants that Attract Bees so you can enjoy a blooming garden full of healthy foliage.

Do you know there are some plants that have a natural tree-like appearance, making them a great alternative to bonsais that can be hard to maintain!

What makes these plants special in the world of gardening? Well, all of these bring something unique to the table (umm, the sides on the leaves or stems) that will enrich your plant collection!