Plants for Clay Soil

Unless you have the right plants, heavy clay soil can be troublesome to work with in the garden. Incredibly moisture-retentive in winter, then baked like concrete in the summer, finding appropriate plants is vital should you want your space to flourish. Luckily, there are plenty of species that fit the bill, and you'll find them in this collection...

Plants for damp ground (237)Plants for shade (180)Bog plants (116)Woodland garden plants (300)Best plants for pots & containers (359)
  • Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion' Shrubs
    From £18
    From £18

    Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'

    Graceful snowy summer blossoms

    • Stately, rounded mounded shrub
    • Vigorous bush - achieves 2-3m
    • Vibrant deciduous leaves, showy blossoms
    • Tolerates most soil types with complete ease

    1 option available

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  • Cornus alba 'Miracle'® Shrubs
    £15
    £15

    Cornus alba 'Miracle'®

    Bright stems for winter glow

    • Versatile in sun or partial shade
    • Best in moist soil for winter color
    • Flowers from May to June
    • Best for vibrant winter stem color

    1 option available

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  • Viburnum burkwoodii Shrubs
    From £35
    From £35

    Viburnum burkwoodii

    Alluring, vivid evergreen leaves

    • Graceful, mounded canopy shape
    • Upright bush - reaches approx 2-3m
    • Semi-evergreen, pink-tinged white blooms
    • A phenomenal addition to sensory gardens

    1 option available

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  • Hydrangea paniculata 'Silver Dollar' Shrubs
    From £25
    £30 From £25

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Silver Dollar'

    Take my coins - I'm sold!

    • Densely-packed, bushy shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 1.2m
    • Sizable, satin-white, cone-shaped clusters
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' Ornamental Trees
    £105
    £190 £105

    Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'

    The most gorgeous garden guard

    • Proudly upright tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • Deep crimson, penta-lobed deciduous leaves
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    1 option available

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  • 'Galloway Pippin' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £45
    £55 From £45

    'Galloway Pippin' Apple Tree

    A classic from south Scotland

    • Sharp, tangy finish (dual)
    • Very well-suited to wet, cold climates
    • Makes an incredible apple pie
    • Harvest from late September to early October

    1 option available

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  • Cornus alba 'Aurea' Shrubs
    £15
    £15

    Cornus alba 'Aurea'

    Golden leaves, winter stems

    • Brightest color in a sunny spot
    • Brightens up a damp, sunny border
    • Flowers from May to June
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    1 option available

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  • 'Ribston Pippin' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £55 From £30

    'Ribston Pippin' Apple Tree

    Superb heritage apple from 1708

    • Rich, full-bodied flavour (eating)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Pick and eat straight from the tree!
    • Harvest from late September to mid-October

    1 option available

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  • 'Red Conference' Pear Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £40 From £30

    'Red Conference' Pear Tree

    The classic... Now in red!

    • Sweeter than regular 'Conference' pears
    • Great storage properties
    • Make a delicious chocolate pear pudding
    • Harvest from August to October

    1 option available

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  • Hydrangea 'Rendez-Vous Confetti Panther' Shrubs
    £40
    £40

    Hydrangea 'Rendez-Vous Confetti Panther'

    A celebration in plant form

    • Free-flowering, bushy shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 1.5m
    • Incredible marbled pink blooms
    • Fully hardy and easy to grow

    1 option available

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  • Hydrangea macrophylla 'Rembrandt Dolce Chic' Shrubs
    £30
    £40 £30

    Hydrangea macrophylla 'Rembrandt Dolce Chic'

    Blooms worthy of a great master

    • Neat, bushy shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 1.2m
    • Pristine pink blooms (starting lemon yellow)
    • Exellent for cut flowers

    1 option available

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  • 'Liberty' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    £45
    £55 £45

    'Liberty' Apple Tree

    Exceptional disease resistance

    • Vinous and well-balanced (eating)
    • Among the most disease-resistant varieties
    • Perfect for packing in lunchboxes
    • Harvest from mid-September to mid-October

    1 option available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Emerald Lace' Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    £40 From £35

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Emerald Lace'

    Plumed perfection

    • Gently arching, shrub-like tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Gem-green foliage turns ruby-red in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Hydrangea paniculata 'Diamantino' Shrubs
    £35
    £35

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Diamantino'

    Studded with twinkling blooms

    • Stout, bushy shrub
    • Small shrub - grows up to 1.2m
    • Plentiful snow-white blooms
    • Perfect for flower arranging

    1 option available

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  • 'Conference Improved' Patio Pear Tree Fruit Trees
    £40
    £40

    'Conference Improved' Patio Pear Tree

    Compact but ultra-productive!

    • Buttery and rich flavour profile
    • Innovative high grafting for compact growth
    • Rustle up a scrumptious crumble
    • Harvest in September

    1 option available

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  • Patio Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Taylor' Ornamental Trees
    £30
    £30

    Patio Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Taylor'

    A touch of class for the terrace

    • Patio tree with a compact, upright habit
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Pink leaves turn green with white borders
    • Stunning variegated foliage

    1 option available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Orangeola' Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    £40 From £35

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'

    An explosion of orange, anyone?

    • Mounded, bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Brilliant orange and red foliage shades
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Field Maple Tree | Acer campestre Ornamental Trees
    From £175
    From £175

    Field Maple Tree | Acer campestre

    A golden delight come autumn

    • Rounded, bushy tree
    • Large tree (grows to 12m+)
    • Green, lobed leaves turning yellow in autumn
    • Highly attractive to pollinating insects

    2 options available

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  • 'Doyenné du Comice Improved' Patio Pear Tree Fruit Trees
    £40
    £40

    'Doyenné du Comice Improved' Patio Pear Tree

    The patio pocket rocket pear

    • Rich, melt-in-the-mouth flavour and texture
    • Grafted specifically for compact growth
    • Bake with syrup or poach wine
    • Harvest in October

    1 option available

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  • Hydrangea paniculata 'Sundae Fraise' Shrubs
    From £20
    From £20

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Sundae Fraise'

    A strawberry-sweet dream

    • Compact, proud shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 1.2m
    • Flowers from June to August
    • Vivid red stems and fragrant flowers

    2 options available

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  • Black Birch Tree | Betula nigra 'Black Star' Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Black Birch Tree | Betula nigra 'Black Star'

    Best in the constellation!

    • Airy, spreading tree
    • Large tree - grows to 12m+
    • Lush green foliage turning yellow in autumn
    • Fabulous peeling bark

    2 options available

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  • The Hydrangea Gift Shrubs
    From £50
    From £50

    The Hydrangea Gift

    A gift of plenty & gratitude

    • Showy summer blooms
    • Excellent for cut flowers
    • A great pick for busy gardeners
    • Perfect for baby showers

    2 options available

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  • Hydrangea paniculata 'Early Harry' Shrubs
    £55
    £55

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Early Harry'

    Blooms all summer long

    • Vigorous upright shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 2m
    • Superb white (then pink) flower cones
    • Excellent for cut flowers

    1 option available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Ornatum' Ornamental Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Ornatum'

    Incredible dissected foliage

    • Rounded, bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Fabulous bronze, crimson and green hues
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • The Viburnum Gift Gift Option
    From £30
    From £30

    The Viburnum Gift

    A gift of fortitude and pride

    • Charming, bushy shrub
    • Evergreen foliage and lovely flower clusters
    • Great for budding gardeners
    • A fabulous thank-you present

    1 option available

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  • Hydrangea macrophylla 'Dark Angel Purple' Shrubs
    From £35
    From £35

    Hydrangea macrophylla 'Dark Angel Purple'

    A most heavenly hydrangea

    • Upright, bushy shrub
    • Medium shrub - grows up to 1.5m
    • Flowers from June to August
    • Brilliant for cut flowers

    1 option available

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  • Sycamore Tree | Acer pseudoplatanus Ornamental Trees
    From £150
    From £150

    Sycamore Tree | Acer pseudoplatanus

    Iconic winged samaras (fruit)

    • Bushy, domed tree
    • Large tree (grows to 12m+)
    • Green, deciduous, five-lobed leaves
    • A great tree to attract pollinators

    1 option available

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Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery

Meet Mike

Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe

Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.

Happy plants make happy customers

Trustpilot
Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence

| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

Jacqueline Burgess

| 2 Jun
five star rating on Trustpilot

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane

| 23 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
five star rating on Trustpilot

The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

Martyn Hill

| 5 Jul
E 'Braeburn Hillwell' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
five star rating on Trustpilot

As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
five star rating on Trustpilot

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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