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

In a nutshell

  • barren soils are poor in nutrients
  • can be acidic and dry
  • often permeable or sandy
  • Mediterranean plants are well suited

perennials

1. Alpine edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale)

  • 5 to 20 cm high
  • blooms from July to late 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 time from mid-May to mid-August
  • Tubular flowers of yellow color
  • suitable for sunny to semi-shady locations
  • is sensitive to lime
  • medicinal plant
  • Caution: flowers are poisonous

3. Calamint (Calamintha nepeta)

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

4. Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)

  • grows up to 180 cm high
  • flowers in yellow from mid-June to September
  • fivefold and radially symmetrical
  • choose sunny to semi-shady locations
  • lime loving
  • Medicinal and dye plant

5. Common pitcher (Silene viscaria)

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

6. Broom (Genista)

  • Shrubs between 50 and 200 cm high
  • yellow butterfly flowers from April to late June
  • more rarely in white, pink, red or purple
  • Location should be sunny
  • Warm cookies are ideal
  • Uses: dye plant, perfume production, folk medicine

7. Helmet orchid (Orchis militaris)

  • between 20 and 60 cm high
  • Flowering period from late April to late 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-red flowers, fivefold, radially symmetrical
  • sunny and warm location preferred
  • ideal for sand and rock gardens

9. Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

  • grows upright 30 to 100 cm
  • blooms from May to mid-September
  • golden-yellow, radially symmetrical flowers
  • prefers sunny to semi-shady spots
  • in all parts of the plant poisonous

10. Meadow daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

  • Perennials with a height of 30 to 60 cm
  • blooms 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 high
  • armored with spikes
  • Flowering period from early June to late July
  • up to three flowers per umbel
  • white, pink or crimson
  • prefers sunny locations, shady and semi-shady locations are tolerated
  • undemanding

2. Common juniper (Juniperus communis)

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

3. Silver birch (Betula pendula)

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

4. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)

  • Shrub or small tree four to eight meters tall
  • 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 (Morus nigra)

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

6. Summer lilac (Buddleja davidii)

  • 0.5 to 5 meters high
  • Flowering time from July to the end of September
  • racemes up to 30 cm long in white, pink, crimson, blue-violet, violet
  • Flowers smell like honey
  • prefers sunny and warm locations
  • good heat tolerance

7. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

  • shrub or tree two to 25 meters high
  • flowers from May to the first week of June
  • small, inconspicuous flowers
  • forms berries
  • Location sunny to shady
  • a nutrient-rich to barren soil is suitable
  • leaves and berries slightly toxic

ground cover

1. African ring daisy (Anacyclus depressus)

  • 15 to 25 cm tall, rosette growth
  • blooms from May to June
  • Flowers resemble daisies
  • A full sun location is ideal
  • good for rock gardens
Source: Jerry Friedman, Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus open, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

2. Mountain Chickweed (Arenaria montana)

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

3. Blue-green Prickly Nut (Acaena buchananii)

  • 20 to 30 cm high ground cover
  • lush growth with blue-green foliage
  • inconspicuous flowers from June to July
  • develops yellow-red to reddish-brown nuts with spines
  • 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. Hot Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

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

6. Seaweed (Lobularia maritima)

  • up to 40 cm high
  • blooms from July to early December
  • white flowers, strongly scented
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • pollinator plant

cacti and succulents

1. Agaves (Agave)

  • up to 12 meters high (species dependent)
  • Rosette plants with succulent leaves
  • rarely bloom in Central Europe
  • Location sunny and warm
  • slightly poisonous medicinal plant
  • hardy to -10°C

2. True 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. Houseleeks (Sempervivum)

  • 0.5 to 60 cm high
  • grows as a succulent clump
  • bloom from late May to August (flowers vary by species)
  • sunny, warm and dry location
  • hardy
  • ideal rock garden plant

4. Hedgehog pillar cactus (Echinocereus)

  • cacti up to 20 cm high
  • with luck it will bloom red in spring
  • warm and sunny location
  • barren soil with a high mineral content is ideal
  • not hardy
Source: Michael Wolf, Echinocereus rigidissimus ssp rubispinus L88, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.5

5. Living Stones (Lithops)

  • three to 10 cm high
  • resemble stones
  • blooms 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
  • not a cactus despite the name

7. Hardy prickly pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)

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

Notice: Make sure your succulents have good winter protection. In many regions they are dependent on additional protective measures despite a possible winter hardiness.

herbs

1. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

  • 60 to 200 cm high
  • Harvest time from July to mid-October
  • sunny location
  • undemanding
  • Can be used as a spice plant or therapeutically

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, violet spikes in violet
  • 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 fall
  • 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
  • spice 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
  • aromatic leaves, 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 just before flowering (depending on species)
  • soothing scent
  • sunny and sheltered location
  • ideal for sandy soils

Tip: You can even plant Mediterranean herbs in stone soil, 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
  • grey-green culms
  • grey-white spikes from August to mid-October
  • sunny location
  • good for windy corners
Source: Royalbroil, AmericanMarramGrassKohlerAndraeStateParkLakeMichigan, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

2. Mountain brome (Bromus erectus)

  • Grasses with a height of 40 to 100 cm
  • yellow to grey-green culms
  • blooms in red or crimson panicles from June to mid-July
  • sunny and warm locations are preferred
  • ideal for nutrient-poor grassland and slopes
Source: Petr Filippov, Bromus erectus1, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

3. Blue-green Iridescent Grass (Koeleria glauca)

  • Height from 15 to 40 cm
  • blue-green culms
  • grey-green panicles from June to the end of July
  • Full sun locations 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-grey culms
  • blooms from June to July with yellow-brown panicle flowers
  • dry and sunny locations are preferred
  • barren soil improves vitality significantly

5. Feather grasses (Stipa)

  • 25 to 200 cm high (depending on the species)
  • intense green colored culms
  • Sunny locations with lots of space preferred
  • heat resistant
  • excellent rock garden plants

6. Sea rye (Leymus arenarius)

  • 100 to 130 cm high and up to 200 cm wide
  • Blue-grey culms
  • flowers in yellow-green spikes from June to the end of July
  • sunny locations are ideal
  • vigorous with runners

7. Quaking grasses (briza)

  • 10 to 40 cm high and wide
  • rich green colored culms
  • green-brown panicle flowers from May to mid-August
  • Flowers tremble when moved
  • Location should be sunny
  • ideal greening for open spaces

frequently asked Questions

What should be considered when caring for the plants?

Most of the plants in the list are species and genera that are sensitive to excessive moisture. This means you should make sure that the soil remains well drained and that you don't water too much. For plants that need a little more moisture, consider mulching. As a result, the soil does not lose water too quickly.

Is barren soil acidic?

In most cases, barren soils are acidic. For this reason, for some of the plants presented, it is important to improve the pH of the soil before planting. The best way to do this is lime, which you distribute in the required quantities. Optionally, you can water more with hard water until the pH has improved.

How can barren soil be improved?

If you want to permanently improve the soil, for example to plant vegetables, you can mix in mature compost and quartz sand. To do this, dig up the ground well before you enrich the excavated earth. If this method is not enough, you can rely on a floor replacement. The time and money required for this variant is significantly higher.

Category:

Garden plants