10 Plants That Can Grow in Poor Soil

Whether you are trying to grow a fern in your living room or cultivate an entire garden in your backyard, being a plant parent isn’t always easy. Even if you are meticulous about watering and other aspects of plant maintenance, there’s a lot out of your control, such as poor soil. Or is it? 

Whether you are in the process of improving your soil or simply live in an area with poor conditions, that doesn’t mean your plants can’t thrive—you just need to choose the right ones. Here are ten plants that grow in poor soil, along with expert advice on how to determine if poor soil is an issue and how to improve the health of your soil.

Plants That Thrive In Poor Soil

According to Cheyan DuVal, a seller on PalmStreet, which is a live shopping platform for plants, home goods, and more, pollinator-friendly plants thrive in poor soil. These include:

“These plants can be extremely resilient and adapt to harsh conditions to support their needs by having deep root systems to search for moisture or nutrients deep under the surface,” says DuVal.

These plants can also grow in poor soil:

If you don’t want to grow these plants (they’re not the only options out there!), it’s best to check what species are native to your location and zone. If you’re not sure, someone at your local nursery or garden center should be able to guide you in the right direction.

How Do You Know You Have Poor Soil?

Did you dig a bag of soil out of the clearance bin and are now second-guessing that decision? Was your garden thriving at one point and now not doing so well? Poor soil can have multiple causes, but there are a few ways to figure out what’s going on.

Test Drainage

The Sill’s plant expert, Paris Lalicata, suggests starting by doing a water infiltration test to determine drainage. “You can easily do this by digging a hole, filling it with water, and observing how quickly it drains,” she instructs.

If the water drains within five minutes, the soil has adequate drainage. “However, if it takes 20 minutes or longer for the water to drain, your soil may be heavy in clay and would require amendments to loosen up the soil to provide more drainage,” Lalicata explains. “If you find the water drains within seconds to a few minutes, your soil may not be holding enough water, and adding organic matter can improve its structure.”

Observe The Soil’s Color

Lalicata also advises looking at the color of your soil as you dig it up to see how rich in organic matter it is. “The darker and more black your soil is, along with its ability to hold its structure, means it’s rich in organic matter. If it’s very light-colored and falls apart easily, you’ll need to amend it with more organic matter.”

The Insect Check

While encountering insects might not be your favorite part of gardening, their presence is a sign of healthy soil. According to both experts, if you notice there’s a lack of insects, such as earthworms, you might not have the highest quality soil.

Consider Amending Your Soil

Amending or adding things to your soil can improve its health. “Healthy soil is bioactive, often using symbiotic relationships between insects, worms, and other microorganisms. By adding nutrient-rich amendments, such as worm castings, beneficial nematodes, compost, or other organic matter, and aerating the soil, you reintroduce vital nutrients into your substrate,” says DuVal.