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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.

Allium hyalinum
Allium hyalinum
Wild Onion

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Allium unifolium
Allium unifolium
Meadow Onion

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Alnus incana tenuifolia ssp.
Alnus incana tenuifolia ssp.
Mountain Alder

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Alnus oregana
Alnus oregana
Red Alder

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Alnus rhombifolia
Alnus rhombifolia
White Alder

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Amelanchier alnifolia
Amelanchier alnifolia
Service Berry

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Anemone deltoidea
Anemone deltoidea
Columbian Windflower

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Anemone drummondii
Anemone drummondii
Anemone

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Anemone multifida
Anemone multifida
Anemone

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Anemopsis californica
Anemopsis californica
Yerba Mansa

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Angelica hendersonii
Angelica hendersonii
Bluff Angelica

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Angelica tomentosa
Angelica tomentosa
Foothill Angelica

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Annual wildflower Mix
Annual wildflower Mix
Annual Wildflower Mix

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Antirrhinum multiflorum
Antirrhinum multiflorum
Snapdragon

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Antirrhinum virga
Antirrhinum virga
Tall Snapdragon

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Apocynum cannabinum
Apocynum cannabinum
Indian Hemp

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aquilegia eximia
Aquilegia eximia
Summer Columbine

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aquilegia formosa
Aquilegia formosa
Columbine

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aquilegia formosa
Aquilegia formosa
Western Columbine

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aquilegia pubescens
Aquilegia pubescens
Alpine Columbine

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arabis blepharophylla
Arabis blepharophylla
Coast Rock Cress

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arabis blepharophylla 'Spring Charm'
Arabis blepharophylla 'Spring Charm'
Coast Rock Cress

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arabis brewerii
Arabis brewerii
Brewer's Rock Cress

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arabis modesta
Arabis modesta
Modest Rock Cress

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Aralia californica
Aralia californica
Elk Clover

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus menziesii
Madrone

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos
Bearberry Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffith'
Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffith'
'Austin Griffith' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd'
Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd'
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
'Emerald Carpet' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Green Bay'
Arctostaphylos 'Green Bay'
'Green Bay' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Greensphere'
Arctostaphylos 'Greensphere'
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Indian Hill'
Arctostaphylos 'Indian Hill'
'Indian Hill' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'
Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'
'John Dourley' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Lester Rowntree'
Arctostaphylos 'Lester Rowntree'
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Lutsko's Pink'
Arctostaphylos 'Lutsko's Pink'
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist'
Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist'
'Pacific Mist' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Sandsprite'
Arctostaphylos 'Sandsprite'
'Sandsprite' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Seaspray'
Arctostaphylos 'Seaspray'
'Seaspray' Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'White Lanterns'
Arctostaphylos 'White Lanterns'
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos 'Winterglow'
Arctostaphylos 'Winterglow'
Winterglow Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos andersonii
Arctostaphylos andersonii
Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos auriculata
Arctostaphylos auriculata
Mount Diablo Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos auriculata
Arctostaphylos auriculata
Mount Diablo Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos auriculata 'Knobcone Point'
Arctostaphylos auriculata 'Knobcone Point'
Mount Diablo Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos bakeri
Arctostaphylos bakeri
Baker's Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds'
Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds'
Serpentine Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos canescens
Arctostaphylos canescens
Hoary Manzanita

Botanic Name

size

exposure

water

1 gal

$1

2 gal

$2

4"

$4

5 gal

$5

15 gal

$15

24" box

$24

Arctostaphylos canescens 'Loma Prieta'
Arctostaphylos canescens 'Loma Prieta'
Manzanita

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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