Clay soil is really much more of a problem for gardeners than it is for plants.
Clay soil may be tough for a gardener to work, but it holds water and nutrients well. Those are big advantages for plants. There are a great deal of plants that love clay soil, and even more that tolerate it very well.
- Aster: Full sun; zones 4-8
- Astilbe: Shade/part shade; zones 3-8
- Bearded Iris (German Iris): Late spring blooms, zones 3-9
- Bee Balm (Monarda); full sun; zones 4-8
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia): Full sun; zones 4-9
- Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia): Shade; zones 3-9
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia): Full sun; zones 5-9
- Chokecherry shrub (Aronia): Full sun/part shade; zones 3-7
- Coneflower (Echinacea): Full sun; zones 3-9
- Daylily: Full sun; zones 3-9
- Dogwood shrub: Full sun/shade; zones 2-8
- Elderberry shrub: Full sun/part shade; zones 4-7
- Flowering Quince shrub: Full sun/part shade; zones 4-8
- Hosta: Shade; zones 3-9
- Joe Pye Weed; Full sun; zones 4-8
- Liatris; Full sun; zones 4-8
- Lilac shrub: Full sun to part shade; zones 3-7
- Phlox: Full sun; zones 4-8
- Potentilla shrub: Full sun; zones 2-6
- Rose of Sharon Hibiscus shrub (Althea): Full sun/part shade; zones 5-9
- Sedum: Full sun; zones 4-8
- Smooth Hydrangea (arborescens) shrub: Part shade; zones 3-9
- Viburnum: Full sun; zones 5-8
- Weigela shrub: Full sun/part shade/ zones 4-8
These are all readily available and easy to grow garden plants. There are also many prairie flowers that will do very well in clay, but may spread aggressively.