Plants for chalky soil with pink and red flowers
Plenty of plants, of a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, thrive in the higher pH of chalky soil so it's possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- Chalky or limey soils can benefit from the addition of plenty of organic matter to improve water retention
- Many plants are not pH sensitive
- Chalky soils tend to drain quickly, even in wet weather, so can be good for Mediterranean plants
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The planting plan
This pink and red planting design, provides a range of plants that once established, will thrive in alkaline, chalky or limey soil, while still providing a variety of interest throughout the year. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
Choosing plants for chalky soil
The Geum and Heuchera provide some groundcover and will help prevent erosion of bare soil. The groundcover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and suppress weed growth. Additional organic mulching can further improve soil moisture retention and weed suppression.
2 - Deutzia x hybrida ‘Mont Rose’ is a medium-sized deciduous shrub with clusters of light purple-pink star-shaped flowers in early summer.
3 - Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ has semi-evergreen mounds of leaves, marbled silver-green with burgundy veins edged with green. Pale pink flowers are held high in late spring.
4 - Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ has bright orange-red flowers with golden yellow stamens in the centre, in late spring-early summer.
5 - Anemone hupehensis var japonica ‘Praecox’ is an erect herbaceous perennial with bowl-shaped red-purple flowers in late summer and autumn.
6 - Syringa pubescens subsp microphylla ‘Superba’ has deciduous, dark green leaves and upright sprays of fragrant rosy-pink flowers in late spring to early summer.
About alkaline, chalky soils
The challenge of growing on chalky soils
Why choose a sustainable planting combination
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