Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 2–4 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Arizona · Zones 5–10
Native Plants for Clay Soil in Arizona
Native plants that root happily into heavy clay — the dense, slow-draining soil that defeats so many garden-center perennials. For Arizona, the right natives are shaped by Sonoran & Chihuahuan deserts, Mogollon Rim and a arid, hot low desert to cool high country climate. Every species below, from Wild Bergamot and Common Yarrow to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arizona and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 5–10. Heavy clay is actually fertile and moisture-holding; the trick is choosing plants whose deep, muscular roots can punch through it and even improve it over time. Avoid working clay when it is wet, plant a little high to keep crowns from sitting in water, and mulch to keep the surface from baking into a crust. These natives do the soil-building for you.
The plants
9 native species for Arizona
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–3 ft tall — it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 2–4 ft tall, and it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 8–20 in tall, flowering as it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2–4 ft tall, and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
At home in the dense clay that defeats most perennials, 1.5–2.5 ft tall; it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Punches its roots through dense clay where garden-center perennials sulk, at 2–6 ft tall, and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A clay-buster — thrives in the slow-draining ground, 6–9 ft tall; it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Roots straight into heavy clay and even improves it, standing 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arizona
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.