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Clay tolerant species 

Clay tolerant natives grown by Yerba Buena Nursery

Along with deer as neighbors, gardening in clay soil is one of the most common challenges facing our customers. The following list will give you a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials to select for a garden with poor drainage.

How do you know if you have clay soil? The easiest method is to moisten a small patch of your yard and scoop up a handful of earth. Form it into a ball, then open your hand. If the ball falls apart, it's safe to say you do not have clay soil. If it withstands a couple of pokes without disintegrating, it's safe to say your soil is at least fairly clayey.

 

Another common test is to dig a small hole about a foot deep, fill it with water, let it drain, then refill the hole. The time it takes for the second filling to percolate into the soil is a good judge of the drainage characteristics of your yard. If water remains standing in the hole longer than 8-12 hours, you have clay soil.

Abies bracteata
Abies bracteata
Santa Lucia Fir

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Abies concolor
Abies concolor
White Fir

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Abies grandis
Abies grandis
Grand Fir

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Abies magnifica
Abies magnifica
Red Fir

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Acer circinatum
Acer circinatum
Vine Maple

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Acer glabrum
Acer glabrum
Rocky Mountain Maple

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Acer macrophyllum
Acer macrophyllum
Big Leaf Maple

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Acer negundo californicum var.
Acer negundo californicum var.
Box Elder

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
Pink & White Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
Rosey Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
White Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium 'Calistoga'
Achillea millefolium 'Calistoga'
Grey-Leaved Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium 'King Range'
Achillea millefolium 'King Range'
White Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium 'Pink Island Form'
Achillea millefolium 'Pink Island Form'
Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast'
Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast'
Sonoma White Yarrow

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achlys triphylla
Achlys triphylla
Vanilla Leaf

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Achnaterum hymenoides
Achnaterum hymenoides
Indian Ricegrass

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Acnatherum occidentalis
Acnatherum occidentalis
California Needlegrass

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Actea rubra
Actea rubra
Baneberry

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adenostoma fasciculatum
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Chamise

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adenostoma fasciculatum
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Creeping Chamise

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adenostoma fasciculatum 'Santa Cruz Island'
Adenostoma fasciculatum 'Santa Cruz Island'
Chamise

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adenostoma sparsifolium
Adenostoma sparsifolium
Red Shanks

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum
Adiantum
Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum 'Brillant Elze'
Adiantum 'Brillant Elze'
Maidenhair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum aleuticum (syn. pedatum)
Adiantum aleuticum (syn. pedatum)
Five-Finger Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum capillus-veneris
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Venus-Hair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum formosum
Adiantum formosum
Australian Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum hispidulum
Adiantum hispidulum
Rosy Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum jordanii
Adiantum jordanii
California Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum
Adiantum raddianum
Maidenhair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Fritz Luth'
Adiantum raddianum 'Fritz Luth'
Maidenhair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Gracillimum'
Adiantum raddianum 'Gracillimum'
Maidenhair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Pacific Maid'
Adiantum raddianum 'Pacific Maid'
Maidenhair Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Pacotti'
Adiantum raddianum 'Pacotti'
Double Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Tasselatum'
Adiantum raddianum 'Tasselatum'
Tasselled Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum 'Triumph'
Adiantum raddianum 'Triumph'
Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum Fragrantissimum
Adiantum raddianum Fragrantissimum
Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum raddianum Tinctum
Adiantum raddianum Tinctum
Ocean Spray Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Adiantum x trayci
Adiantum x trayci
Maidenhair

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aesculus californica
Aesculus californica
California Buckeye

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Agastache occidentalis
Agastache occidentalis
Agastache

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Agastache urticifolia
Agastache urticifolia
Horsemint

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Agave 'Blue Flame'
Agave 'Blue Flame'
Blue Agave

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Agave deserti
Agave deserti
Agave

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Agave shawii
Agave shawii
Shaw's Agave

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Ageratina occidentalis
Ageratina occidentalis
Ageratina

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aglaomorpha 'Roberts'
Aglaomorpha 'Roberts'
Aglaomorpha Hybrid

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aglaomorpha coronans
Aglaomorpha coronans
Snake Leaf Fern

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Allium falcifolium
Allium falcifolium
Sickle-leafed Onion

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

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