45 plants growing on poor soil

A barren soil does not have to do without plants. There are a number of plants that prefer poor soils and poor soils. We present 45 of these plants to you in this article.

Perennials

1. Alpine edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale)

• 5 to 20 cm high
• blooms from July to the end of September
• pure white flower
• prefers sunny locations without shade
• barren, calcareous soils are ideal
• well suited for hillside planting

2. Arnica (arnica montana)

• 20 to 60 cm high perennial
• Flowering period from mid-May to mid-August
• Tubular flowers of yellow color
• suitable for sunny to partially shaded locations
• is sensitive to lime
• Medicinal plant
• Caution: flowers are poisonous

3. Mountain Mint (Calamintha nepeta)

• 30 to 80 cm high
• blooms from July to the end of September
• zygomorphic flowers in white or light purple
• sunny locations are preferred
• smells strong
• ideal for rock gardens

4. Common ormennig (Agrimonia eupatoria)

• grows up to 180 cm high
• blooms in yellow from mid-June to September
• fivefold and radial symmetry
• choose sunny to partially shaded locations
• chalk-loving
• Medicinal and dye plant

5. Common Pechnelke (Silene viscaria)

• between 30 and 90 cm high
• flowers pink or purple from May to July
• Inflorescences and stems sticky
• a location in full sun is ideal
• avoiding lime
• is considered endangered in some federal states

6. Gorse (genista)

• Shrubs between 50 and 200 cm high
• yellow butterfly flowers from April to the end of June
• more rarely in white, pink, red or purple
• The location should be sunny
• warm places are ideal
• Uses: dye plant, perfume production, folk medicine

7. Helmet orchid (Orchis militaris)

• between 20 and 60 cm high
• Flowering period from the end of April to the end of June
• Inflorescence with up to 50 white-pink flowers
• sunny to shady location
• endangered

8. Carthusian Carnation (Dianthus carthusianorum)

• 15 to 50 cm high
• up to 15 flowers per inflorescence
• purple flowers, five-fold, radial symmetry
• sunny and warm location preferred
• ideal for sand and rock gardens

9. Sharp buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

• grows upright 30 to 100 cm
• flowers from May to mid-September
• golden yellow, radial symmetry flowers
• prefers sunny to partially shaded spots
• in all parts of the plant poisonous

10. Meadow Marguerite (Leucanthemum vulgare)

• Perennials with a height of 30 to 60 cm
• flowers from mid-May to mid-September
• four to six cm large flowers, petals colored white, golden-yellow tubular flowers
• sunny to partially shaded locations are ideal

trees and shrubs

1. Apple rose (Rosa villosa)

• Shrubs up to two meters in height
• armed with spikes
• Flowering time from the beginning of June to the end of July
• up to three flowers per umbel
• white, pink or crimson
• prefers sunny locations, shady and partially shaded locations are tolerated
• undemanding

2. Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)

• Shrubs or trees up to 12 meters high
• forms needles
• berries develop after two to three years
• Harvest time from August to mid-September
• Use as a spice or to make alcohol
• sunny to partially shaded locations recommended

3. Silver birch (Betula pendula)

• 15 to 30 meters high
• characteristic white bark
• flowers from April to May
• ideal for sunny locations
• undemanding
• Solitary tree

4. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)

• four to eight meter high shrub or small tree
• flowers golden yellow from March to mid-April
• important pollinator
• forms edible fruits
• Harvest time from late August to mid-October
• prefers sunny locations, tolerates partial shade
• undemanding
• suitable as a hedge

5. Black Mulberry Tree (Morus nigra)

• up to 12 meters high
• flowers in catkins from May to mid-June
• forms edible, black fruits
• Harvest time from late May to mid-September
• The location should be sunny, sheltered and warm

6. Buddleia (Buddleja davidii)

• 0.5 to five feet tall
• Flowering time from July to the end of September
• up to 30 cm long grape flowers in white, pink, purple-red, blue-violet, violet
• Flowers smell of honey
• prefers sunny and warm locations
• well tolerated by heat

7. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

• two to 25 meter high shrub or tree
• flowers from May to the first week of June
• small, inconspicuous flowers
• forms berries
• Location shady to shady
• A nutrient-rich to barren soil is suitable
• Leaves and berries slightly poisonous

Ground cover

1. African ring basket (Anacyclus depressus)

• 15 to 25 cm high, rosette growth
• blooms from May to June
• Flowers resemble daisies
• a location in full sun is ideal
• well suited for rock gardens

2. Mountain Sandwort (Arenaria montana)

• 10 to 30 cm tall and prostrate
• blooms from February to mid-May
• white, radial symmetry flowers
• prefers sunny locations
• well suited for Mediterranean or rock gardens

3. Blue-green prickly nuts (Acaena buchananii)

• 20 to 30 cm high ground cover
• lush growth with blue-green foliage
• inconspicuous flowers from June to July
• forms yellow-red to red-brown nuts with spikes
• sunny location
• for open spaces and rock gardens

4. Speedwell (Veronica)

• 20 to 30 cm higher
• lush growth with blue-green foliage
• Pollinator plant
• sunny to partially shaded location
• undemanding

5. Spicy stonecrop (Sedum acre)

• up to 10 cm high
• grows creeping
• blooms from June to mid-July in yellow umbellate flowers
• Choose full sun, dry locations
• suitable for wall planting and other stone structures

6. Beach silver herb (Lobularia maritima)

• up to 40 cm high
• blooms from July to early December
• white flowers, very fragrant
• sunny to partially shaded location
• Pollinator plant

Cacti and succulents

1. Agaves (agave)

• up to 12 meters high (depending on the species)
• Rosette plants with succulent leaves
• rarely bloom in Central Europe
• Sunny and warm location
• slightly poisonous medicinal plant
• hardy to -10 ° C

2. Real aloe (aloe vera)

• 40 to 60 cm high
• up to 16 succulent leaves
• older leaves contain usable gel
• sunny and warm location
• not hardy

3. Hauswurzen (Sempervivum)

• 0.5 to 60 cm high
• grows as a succulent eyrie
• bloom from the end of May to August (flowers vary according to type)
• sunny, warm and dry location
• hardy
• ideal rock garden plant

4. Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus)

• up to 20 cm high cacti
• blooms red with happiness in spring
• warm and sunny location
• barren soil with a high mineral content is ideal
• not hardy

5. Living stones (Lithops)

• three to 10 cm high
• resemble stones
• flowers with luck from September to November
• full sun and warm location
• not hardy
• ideal for rock gardens

6. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera)

• 20 to 50 cm high
• hanging growth, provided with bristles, leaves articulated
• blooms from November to January
• Flowers colored white, pink or red
• bright and warm location without direct sunlight
• no cactus despite the name

7. Hardy prickly pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)

• Height from ten to 40 cm
• rich green succulent plant
• armed with thorns
• sunny and sheltered location
• ideal in front of south walls
• hardy

Note: Make sure that the succulents have good winter protection. In many regions, despite a possible winter hardiness, they are dependent on additional protective measures.

Herbs

1. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

• 60 to 200 cm high
• Harvest time from July to mid-October
• sunny location
• undemanding
• as a herb or therapeutically usable

2. Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum)

• 20 to 60 cm high
• can be harvested all year round
• Leaves smell of curry
• sunny, warm and dry location
• undemanding
• Leaves are used as a spice

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• up to a meter high
• Flowering period from June to the end of August
• up to eight cm long, purple ears in purple
• is harvested during the flowering period
• sunny and warm location
• suitable for food and perfume production

4. Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

• up to ten meters high
• Harvest the aromatic leaves in spring or autumn
• prefers sunny locations, tolerates partial shade
• should be sheltered from the wind and warm
• Leaves are used as a spice

5. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

• 20 to 70 cm high
• Leaves smell aromatic
• Harvest time over growing season
• sunny and warm location
• Aromatic plant

6. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• 50 to 200 cm high
• smells intensely aromatic
• Harvest time over growing season
• prefers sunny and warm locations
• Spice and medicinal plant

7. Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• up to 60 cm high
• leaves with aromatic scent, hairy
• ideal harvest time from late May to mid-August
• sunny, warm and sheltered location
• suitable for gravel beds and rock gardens

8. Thyme (thymus)

• up to 40 cm high
• Harvest time shortly before flowering time (depending on the species)
• soothing scent
• sunny and sheltered location
• ideal for sandy soils

Tip: You can even plant Mediterranean herbs in stone soils, as they are well-drained and protect against waterlogging. They also store sufficient heat, which has a positive effect on the vitality of the herbs.

Grasses

1. American dune grass (Ammophila breviligulata)

• 100 to 140 cm high, 30 to 50 cm wide
• gray-green stalks
• gray-white ears from August to mid-October
• sunny location
• well suited for windy corners

2. Mountain Trespe (Bromus erectus)

• Grasses with a height of 40 to 100 cm
• yellow to gray-green colored stalks
• flowers from June to mid-July in red or purple panicles
• sunny and warm locations are preferred
• ideal for grasslands and slopes

3. Blue-green Schillergrass (Koeleria glauca)

• Height from 15 to 40 cm
• blue-green stalks
• gray-green panicles from June to the end of July
• locations in full sun are ideal
• a permeable, barren soil is recommended
• suitable for borders and rock gardens

4. Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)

• forms cushions with a height of 25 cm
• blue-gray colored stalks
• blooms from June to July with yellow-brown panicle flowers
• dry and sunny locations are preferred
• barren soil significantly improves vitality

5. Feather grass (Stipa)

• 25 to 200 cm high (depending on the species)
• stalks of intense green color
• preferred sunny locations with plenty of space
• heat resistant
• excellent rock garden plants

6. Beach rye (Leymus arenarius)

• 100 to 130 cm high and up to 200 cm wide
• Culms in blue-gray color
• flowers in yellow-green spikes from June to the end of July
• sunny locations are ideal
• eager to grow with foothills

7. Trembling grasses (Briza)

• 10 to 40 cm high and wide
• deep green colored stalks
• green-brown panicle flowers from May to mid-August
• Flowers tremble when moved
• The location should be sunny
• ideal greenery for open spaces

frequently asked Questions