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      35 Flowers That Will Thrive in Sandy Soil

      Is your garden full of sandy soil? It can be tricky to find plants that will grow well in looser, sandy soil. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago lists 35 flowers that will beautify your sandy gardens this season!

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      Written by Last updated: August 14, 2023 | 18 min read

      flowers for sandy soil

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      Planning a garden can be a joy and a pain all at the same time. You may have dreams of vibrant blossoms and lush greenery thriving in your landscape, but your soil may not be the best for a specific plant. If you have particularly sandy soil, you may wonder if you can even grow flowers at all!

      Sandy soil can be tricky because it does not hold on to water for very long. Plants that require a lot of water, or need rich and fertile soil, will not do well in sandy soil.

      This can be disappointing. Do not fret; here is a list of 35 flowers that will grow beautifully in sandy soil.

      Basket of Gold

      Close-up of a flowering plant Aurinia saxatilis on a blurred green background. Basket-of-Gold is a small herbaceous perennial that forms a dense mat of foliage. The leaves are evergreen, small, narrow, lanceolate, with slightly serrated or lobed margins. The leaves are grayish green in color and have a slightly hairy texture. The flowers are small, collected in dense inflorescences at the tips of the stems. Each flower has four bright yellow petals and a contrasting green calyx.
      This flower blooms for two months in spring as a bright yellow ground cover for garden edges.
      botanical-name botanical name Aurinia saxatilis
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 6 inches to 1 foot tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-7

      Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a bright yellow ground cover that makes a lovely addition to your garden edges. This perennial will bloom for almost two months in the springtime. The leaves are evergreen and will not leave any holes in your garden. Plant basket of gold along a walkway or in a sandy border garden. 

      When the basket of gold has finished blooming, shear off the spent blossoms to neaten the appearance. Do not overwater or over-fertilize this perennial. It is best left on its own. 

      Beach Rose 

      Close-up of a flowering Beach Rose plant against a backdrop of green foliage. Rosa rugosa is a deciduous shrub with curved stems covered with numerous sharp thorns. The leaves are dark green, leathery, wrinkled, with a rough texture. They consist of several leaflets arranged in an odd pinnate pattern. Leaflets are oval, with serrated edges. The flowers are simple, semi-double, with five petals of bright pink color and with golden stamens in the centers.
      The beach rose thrives in sandy soil and blooms from summer to fall with pink/white flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Rosa rugosa
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 4-6 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-7

      The beach rose will suit you perfectly if you are a rose lover with nothing but sandy soil. Beach roses thrive in well-draining soil. These vigorously growing roses can reach heights of 6 feet and will bloom from early summer into the fall. Producing either pink or white blossoms, which develop into attractive rose hips. 

      These plants need very little care. In fact, I have some growing in my garden that I have never watered. Do not prune your beach roses; they do best when left to their wild selves. Keep this in mind while planting. 

      Bearded Iris

      Close-up of a blooming Iris in a sunny garden. Iris germanica is a perennial plant with erect, strong stems. The flower is large, showy, consisting of three upright petals (falls) and three recurved petals (standards). Falls petals are purple and standards are white with a blue tint. They have ruffled edges.
      The bearded iris has large, beautiful flowers with blade-like foliage on sturdy stems.
      botanical-name botanical name Iris germanica
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      The large and dramatically beautiful flowers of a bearded iris are truly something to marvel at. This type of iris is grown from a bulb. As with most irises, it produces blade-like foliage. The blossoms bloom on sturdy stems.

      There are too many varieties of bearded iris to really dig into. ’Best Bet’ is a popular reblooming variety that produces sky blue and brilliant violet flower petals. 

      Deadhead spent blooms as soon as you notice them to help promote a second bloom. Aside from this, a bearded iris does not require much from you. It is recommended that you divide the clumps every few years. This will help prevent any bulbs from rotting while also providing you with new free plants!

      Blanket Flower

      Close-up of blooming Gaillardia x grandiflora in a sunny garden. The flowers are medium in size, similar to daisies, with a prominent central disk and bright ray-shaped petals. The disc is red-brown, and the petals are two-tone: bright red with bright yellow tips. The leaves are lanceolate or elliptical in shape and have serrated or serrated edges.
      With their bright daisy-like blooms, blanket flowers bring a joyful color to poor, sandy soils.
      botanical-name botanical name Gaillardia x grandiflora
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-10

      Adding blanket flowers to your garden is a surefire way to bring more happiness to sandy soil. This perennial produces brightly-colored blooms that are single or double and daisy-like. The foliage grows in a nice mounded shape in an attractive soft green color.

      ‘Goblin’ produces firefly blossoms in orange, red, and yellow. If you are seeking something a bit softer, try ‘Sunset Popsy,’ which will bloom in a deep shade of pink. 

      You can directly sow blanket flowers into your flower beds or purchase plants from your local garden center. Either way, this perennial is fond of poor or sandy soils. These plants are also drought-tolerant. Try adding blanket flowers to your perennial gardens or your border gardens.

      Blazing Star

      Close-up of a flowering Blazing Star plant against a blurred background of a blooming garden. They are herbaceous perennials with multiple upright stems arising from a basal rosette of leaves. The stems are covered with many fine hairs. The leaves are linear and arranged alternately along the stems. Plants produce bright inflorescences consisting of tall, dense spikes or racemes of flowers. Each flower head is cylindrical in shape and consists of many small tubular inflorescences. Inflorescences are dark purple.
      This beloved perennial has low-growing, grass-like foliage and stunning star-shaped purple spikes.
      botanical-name botanical name Liatris spicata
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 2-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Blazing star, also known as gayfeather, was once a wildflower that has now become a well-loved, long-blooming perennial. The foliage is low-growing and grass-like, and the blooms are the real show-stopper. The flower clusters are made up of star-shaped flowers in a bright shade of purple. 

      Blazing star is a dependable perennial that requires very little care. If your plants grow in overly-fertile soil, they may flop over, and you may need to stake them up. When the blooms have passed, snip the stems back to the base. You can also cut these stems and add them to your indoor arrangements.  

      Blue Lyme Grass

      Close-up of a Leymus arenarius plant against a blurred background. It is a strong grass that forms dense clumps or tussocks. The leaves are narrow and linear, with a bluish-green or greyish-green coloration. They have a smooth texture.
      This grass is a loved coastal plant with soft blue blades, but be cautious of its aggressive spreading.
      botanical-name botanical name Leymus arenaruis
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-10

      Blue lyme grass is loved for its soft blue blades of grass. This is an excellent plant for coastal grasses where you have room for them to spread. Be cautious when planting this grass, as it can be quite aggressive and will spread wherever it feels like it. The plumes are a soft tan and offer a lovely accent to the blue grass. 

      Blue lyme grass is very easy to care for and does not require much water, plus it rarely, if ever, needs fertilizer. In the fall, cut back the foliage into neat bundles. If you think it is time to divide your blue lyme grass, do so in the spring. 

      Butterfly Bush 

      Close-up of a flowering plant Buddleja davidii against a blurred background in a sunny garden. Butterfly Bush is a medium to large shrub with opposite, spear-shaped leaves that are greyish green in color and have a velvety texture. The flowers are small, showy, collected in dense oblong panicles at the tips of the stems. They are bright purple in color, funnel-shaped, with orange throats.
      The butterfly bush is a lovely flowering shrub with large panicles of brightly colored blossoms.
      botanical-name botanical name Buddleja davidii
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 3-12 feet tall, 3-8 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

      The butterfly bush is a lovely flowering shrub that produces large panicles of brightly colored blossoms. Depending on the variety, these shrubs can be small or very large. The leaves are typically silvery green and long. ‘Flutterby Petite Tutti Frutti’ produces large pink flowers but will only grow to 3 feet. ‘Black Knight’ produces deep purple blossoms that will grow 8 feet tall. 

      Butterfly bushes need an average amount of moisture, but they do not like having their feet wet. If you are growing this shrub in very sandy soil, keep it watered! Deadhead the faded blossoms to neaten up the appearance of the plant.

      Butterfly Weed

      Close-up of Asclepias tuberosa flowering plant in the garden. It is a herbaceous perennial plant with oblong lanceolate leaves, with slightly serrated edges. The leaves are bright green in color and have a smooth, waxy texture. The flowers are collected at the ends of the stems in flat or slightly rounded inflorescences. Each flower has five petal-like lobes that curl backward, revealing a central crown or corona composed of five hood-like structures. They are bright orange.
      A bushy perennial with bright orange blossoms, butterfly weed attracts pollinators and monarch butterflies.
      botanical-name botanical name Asclepias tuberosa
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Butterly weed is a beautifully bushy perennial with bright orange flowers. These flowers will bloom continuously throughout the summer attracting all sorts of pollinators into your garden, especially monarch butterflies. Once the blooms have faded, they will make way for beautifully interesting seed pods. 

      Butterfly weed is very low-maintenance and requires minimal supplemental water after the first few growing seasons. Be cautious where you plant butterfly weed; it is known to be invasive in some areas. However, there is a place for every plant. If you keep this plant deadheaded and contained, you will have no issues with spreading.

      California Poppy

      Top view, close-up of blooming Eschscholzia californica in the garden. California Poppy is a short growing plant with a cloddy or spreading growth pattern, with pinnate and finely divided leaves growing from a central rosette. The leaves are alternate and fern-like, giving the plant a delicate and lacy appearance. The flowers are cup-shaped with four wrinkled or wrinkled petals, bright orange.
      The iconic California poppies are beautiful orange flowers found on roadsides, hillsides, and gardens.
      botanical-name botanical name Eschscholzia californica
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 6 inches to 1 foot tall, 6 inches to 1 foot wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-10, annual elsewhere

      California poppies are beautiful orange poppies that are the state flower of California. If you have ever visited this state, you will have seen them growing beautifully on roadsides, hillsides, and gardens. California poppies bloom in the classic orange color or in shades of pink, white, and red. The blue-green foliage is attractive and creates a breezy, loosely branched plant. 

      Plant California poppies from seeds or purchase plants from your local nursery. These plants do not require much fertilizer and are drought-tolerant. You may notice your California poppies going dormant in stretches of extensive heat. 

      Christmas Fern 

      Close-up of a Polystichum acrostichoides plant in a garden. Christmas Fern is a medium-sized fern, has a clumpy growth with numerous branches emerging from the central crown. The leaves of Polystichum acrostichoides are technically called fronds in ferns. The fronds are pinnate, meaning they are divided into multiple leaflets called pinnae, arranged along a central axis or rachis.The pinnae are oblong or lance-shaped, with slightly serrated or toothed edges.
      This fern is a popular, easy-to-care-for evergreen with silvery green fronds that turn fern green.
      botanical-name botanical name Polystichum acrostichoides
      sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
      height height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

      Christmas fern is a popular fern that is very easy to care for. This fern is evergreen and provides year-round color. Each spring, new fronds will unfurl in a shade of silvery green, turning to the classic fern green. Plant Christmas fern in groups for a very attractive ground cover. 

      The Christmas fern is very low maintenance and is tolerant of many different soil types, including sandy soils. Remove dead or damaged fronds as needed. If you wish to divide your ferns, do so in the spring. 

      Cinquefoil

      Close-up of a flowering plant Potentilla alba in a sunny garden. Potentilla alba is a low growing herbaceous perennial plant with a spreading habit. The leaves of Potentilla alba are palmately compound, consisting of several oval leaflets arranged like the fingers of a hand. They are medium green in color with serrated edges and a slightly hairy texture. The flowers are small, white, have five rounded petals and yellow centers.
      This pretty ground cover has white blooms and green palmate foliage.
      botanical-name botanical name Potentilla alba
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 3-5 inches tall, 6 inches to 1 foot wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-8

      Cinequefoil is a pretty ground cover that produces white flowers. The low-growing foliage is green and palmate. There are also shrub varieties of this perennial available, which expands the color and size of cinquefoil for your sandy gardens, 

      Cinquefoil will reseed itself into your garden if it is happy where it is living. This is a great option for areas that struggle with deer or rabbits, as it is resistant to their nibbling. Plant cinquefoil in full sun along a border or flower bed. This would make a really pretty addition to a walkway garden as well. 

      Columbine

      Close-up of a blooming Columbine in the garden, against a blurred green background. It is a herbaceous perennial with slender, erect stems that emerge from a basal rosette of delicate and lacy leaves. The leaves are green in color and have deep lobes. The flowers have spurs and five petal-shaped sepals that resemble thin caps or spurs. The flowers are dark purple with pale purple tips on the petals.
      This flower is known for its fern-like foliage and beautiful spurred blooms.
      botanical-name botanical name Aquilegia spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Columbine, also known as Aquilegia, is a very large genus of plants most known for its unique flowers. These short-lived perennials produce fern-like foliage that stays low to the ground while its delicate stems rise and support the beautiful spurred flowers. Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine produces white and violet blooms. 

      Columbine is a great choice for areas in your garden that get some shade but still have sandy soil. This short-lived perennial will only live for a few years. However, if you allow the flowers to mature on the plant, they will self-sow right into your garden and produce volunteer plants to help fill the gaps. 

      Coneflower

      Close-up of blooming Coneflowers, scientifically known as Echinacea, against a blurred green background. This is a herbaceous plant that has strong vertical stems. The plant forms a basal rosette of lanceolate leaves at the base of the stems, from which flower stalks extend. Echinacea leaves are long and narrow with serrated edges. The flowers are similar to daisies, with a central cone-shaped disk surrounded by ray-shaped petals. The disc is copper brown and the petals are pale purplish pink.
      Coneflowers are beloved perennial plants from prairies with purple and pink daisy-like blooms.
      botanical-name botanical name Echinacea spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 2-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Coneflowers could be the perfect perennial plant. With humble beginnings as a prairie plant, this flowering perennial has entered our gardens and hearts.

      Most popularly, the purple coneflower is a tough plant easily grown from seed, producing purple and pink daisy-like flowers. Newer varieties, such as ‘Colorbust Orange,’ produce fluffy double blooms in bright shades of orange. 

      Coneflowers will spread readily in your garden by seed. To keep your plants contained, deadhead the spent blossoms before they go to seed. If you wish, you can snip the stems to the ground and leave only the foliage to linger until the first frost. 

      Cosmos

      Close-up of flowering Cosmos plants in a sunny garden. Cosmos are erect, branching annuals with slender, wiry stems covered in feathery, fern-like leaves. Medium-sized, daisy-like flowers consist of a central disc surrounded by colorful petals of deep pink, light pink and white.
      These are easy-to-grow annuals with cottage charm that attract pollinators.
      botanical-name botanical name Cosmos spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-6 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11 as an annual

      Cosmos are easy-to-grow annuals that add a touch of cottage charm to any garden. These long-blooming flowers will attract pollinators to your garden. ‘Bright Lights‘ is a classic orange cosmos blend that will grow to 3 feet tall and produce 2 to 3-inch flowers. ‘Apricotta‘ cosmos offers a more subtle shade of peach, growing to 4 feet in height with 3-inch blooms. 

      Cosmos seeds can be sown in springtime indoors or directly into your garden. Once these beauties bloom, they will not require much water unless you are experiencing a drought in your area. Deadhead spent blossoms to prolong your cosmos blooming period. 

      Creeping Phlox

      Close-up of a blooming Phlox subulata in a sunny garden. It is a mat-forming plant with a prostrate or creeping growth pattern. The stems are thin, wiry and densely covered with linear, needle-like leaves. The flowers are small, star-shaped, appearing in inflorescences at the tips of the stems, forming a carpet of color when in full bloom. The flowers are bright purple-pink with dark purple rings in the centers.
      A colorful ground cover with moss-like foliage and periwinkle flowers, creeping phlox grows well in sandy soils.
      botanical-name botanical name Phlox subulata
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 4-6 inches tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Creeping phlox is a bright and colorful spring-blooming ground cover. The moss-like foliage grows into a beautiful mat that will be attractive long after the flowers have stopped blooming. ‘Blue Emerald’ has periwinkle flowers that blend nicely with your spring-blooming bulbs. If you prefer a more neutral flower, ‘white delight’ is a popular variety with crisp white flowers. 

      Creeping phlox is excellent for rock gardens and sandy soils. When your phlox has finished blooming, shear off the spent blooms. This will neaten up your plant while also promoting new vegetative growth.

      Daylily

      Close-up of blooming Daylily in the garden, against a blurred green background. These are herbaceous plants that form tufts of curved, grass-like leaves extending from a central crown or rhizome. The leaves of daylilies are long and belt-like, resembling blades of grass. The flowers are large, showy, tubular or funnel-shaped and are located on tall strong stems. Petals are long, slightly curved back. The flowers are bright orange with a yellow center and prominent long stamens.
      A popular perennial, daylilies enhance flower power with grass-like foliage and many colorful flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Hemerocallis spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-5 feet tall 2-4 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-10

      This popular perennial can really up the flower power in your garden. Daylilies produce grass-like foliage that will remain nice and green all season long.

      The flowers come in a range of sizes as well as colors. ‘Stella de Oro’ is a reblooming daylily that produces golden yellow flowers. ‘Dragos Eye’ is also reblooming. However, these flowers are bicolored in shades of pink with a red center. 

      Daylilies will vary in height depending on the variety you select. However, the flowers will always appear taller than the foliage. If you do not select a reblooming variety, your daylily blossoms will be short-lived, lasting only a day or two after blooming.

      When each stalk has finished blooming, you can cut the stalk right to the ground to neaten the appearance of your garden. Daylilies love sandy soil and make a nice addition to a border garden or scattered amongst your other perennials. 

      Drumstick Allium

      Close-up of flowering Allium sphaerocephalon plants in a garden against a blurred background. Allium sphaerocephalon is a bulbous plant with thin, erect stems. The plant produces oval-shaped flower heads that resemble small drumsticks. The flower heads are made up of numerous tiny star-shaped florets tightly packed together to form a round, compact floret. The flowers are pink-purple above and green below.
      This allium is a spring bulb, reaching 3 feet tall and thriving in sandy soil.
      botanical-name botanical name Allium sphaerocephalon
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 2-3 feet tall, up to 4 inches wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-11

      Drumstick allium is a spring bulb that can add movement and fun to your perennial gardens. Unlike their taller cousins, the drumstick allium will max out at 3 feet in height. The stems are more slender, and the flowers are egg-shaped. Drumstick allium is really fun when it is interplanted with perennials and can fill a blooming void by blooming in late spring to early summer. 

      Because drumstick allium is a bulb, it does not like to sit in wet soil, making sandy gardens the perfect spot for this flower. Cut the stems and add them to your vases. Allow all the foliage to die back before snipping the stems out of your garden in the fall. 

      Flowering Quince

      Close-up of a Chaenomeles speciosa flowering plant in a sunny garden. It is a medium sized shrub with a dense and spreading growth with many branches covered with prickly twigs. The leaves are lanceolate and arranged in an alternating pattern along the branches. They are bright green and glossy, with jagged or serrated edges. Flowers solitary, with five petals, collected in inflorescences at the ends of the branches. They are bright red with golden stamens in the centers.
      This quince offers various colored blossoms and heights to suit any garden, blooming in spring.
      botanical-name botanical name Chaenomeles speciosa
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 3-10 feet tall, 3-10 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

      With many different varieties available, each with uniquely colored blossoms and varying heights, there is a flowering quince for any garden. These deciduous shrubs bloom in the spring, providing much-needed color to an otherwise colorless spring garden.

      ‘Geisha Girl’ is a beautiful peach variety with double flowers that resemble roses. ‘Kinshiden’ produces flowers that are chartreuse in color. 

      Flowering quince is drought-tolerant once established, but newly planted shrubs must be regularly watered. Do your best not to prune your flowering quince unless it is to reshape it. These plants grow best when they are left alone. 

      Globe Thistle

      Close-up of blooming Globe Thistle in the garden, against a blurred background. Echinops are herbaceous perennials with a habit of growth in the form of lumps. They have strong branched stems, covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are deeply lobed or pinnately dissected and have a rough texture. They are greyish green. The plant produces delightful globular heads. The flower heads consist of numerous tiny tubular inflorescences, collected in a tight spherical tuft. Each flower head is surrounded by spiky bracts that are bluish or silver.
      This low-maintenance perennial has soft, attractive leaves and globe-shaped light purple or white flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Echinops spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 2-4 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      If you are looking for a perennial that is low maintenance but will fill your garden with beauty, globe thistle is a perfect choice. These perennials only look threatening, but the cut leaves are actually soft and very attractive. The globe-shaped flowers are typically light purple, but there are also white varieties such as ‘Star Frost.’

      Globe thistle is drought-resistant once it is established in your garden. This perennial will self-seed; if allowed, it will spread nicely in your gardens. Simply deadhead spent flowers to keep your globe thistle contained. 

      Heath

      Close-up of a flowering Erica carnea plant against a blurred green background. It is a small undersized shrub with a prostrate to undulating growth habit. The leaves are tiny and needle-shaped. The foliage is evergreen, arranged in whorls along the stems and creating a dense textured appearance. The plant produces an abundance of delicate purple flowers. The flowers are urn-shaped and are collected in small inflorescences at the tips of the stems.
      A small evergreen plant, heath blooms in late winter to early spring with white or mauve flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Erica carnea
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 6 inches to 1 foot tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-8

      Heath is a small evergreen plant with a nice ability to spread as a groundcover. This perennial will bloom in late winter to early spring. The flowers are typically white or mauve and smother the lovely evergreen foliage. ‘Ice Princess’ is a lovely white variety, while ‘Myretoun Ruby’ offers mauve flowers that will age to a bright red. 

      Heath should be pruned very shortly after flowering ends. It produces flower buds during the summer season, and pruning too late will result in a poor showing of flowers in the next season. 

      Heather

      Close-up of a blooming Calluna vulgaris in a sunny garden. Calluna vulgaris, commonly known as Heather, is an evergreen shrub that grows dense and bushy, forming mounds of thin stems. The leaves are small, needle-like and scaly in shape. They are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems and are dark green in color. The flowers are small, bell-shaped, collected in dense inflorescences or brushes at the ends of the stems. Flowers are delicate pink.
      This woody perennial thrives in sandy soil and remains evergreen.
      botanical-name botanical name Calluna vulgaris
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

      Heather is a woody perennial that makes an excellent addition to your sandy soil gardens. This evergreen perennial will keep your garden nice and lush all year round. The small flowers will bloom from mid-summer into the fall. At that point, the foliage will turn fiery red or orange, and the color continues.

      ‘Firefly’ is arguably the most colorful heather, with mauve flowers and chartreuse foliage. In the fall, the foliage will age to orange, red, and finally, a deep brick red that will last through the winter. 

      Heather performs best in sandy and rocky soils. Unlike many other plants that love growing in sandy soil, it prefers the sand to stay moist. Allowing the soil to dry out too much can harm your heather. Prune your heather plants in the springtime to keep them from getting too leggy!

      Joe Pye Weed

      Close-up of flowering Joe Pye Weed plants in the garden. Joe Pye Weed is a vigorous herbaceous plant with strong upright purplish stems. The leaves are large, lanceolate, with serrated edges. The leaves are arranged in whorls or opposite pairs along the stems. The foliage is dark green in color and slightly rough in texture. The flowers are in dense, dome-shaped clusters at the tops of the stems, forming a flat-topped inflorescence known as a corymb. Each flower head consists of many small tubular buds that are pink to mauve.
      Not actually a weed, this tall perennial features foamy purple flowers and red stems.
      botanical-name botanical name Eutrochium fistulosum
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 4-7 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-10

      Joe Pye weed is a tall growing perennial that produces large, aromatic foamy purple flowers. The stems of this plant are deep red, dramatically accenting the green-textured leaves. If you don’t have enough room for this large plant, try little joe pye weed, which will only reach 3-4 feet tall. 

      It appreciates being watered regularly, but not too frequently. This is a great plant for an area you would like to naturalize, but it also has a place in your perennial flower beds. Cut the plant back to the ground in the fall when the foliage begins to fade. 

      Lantana

      Close-up of a flowering Lantana plant in the garden. Lantana is a fast growing shrub with dense and spreading growth. The leaves are ovate, arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. They have a rough, slightly textured surface and are covered with tiny hairs. The foliage is dark green in color. The flowers are small, tubular, collected in rounded inflorescences with a flat top. They come in a wide variety of colors, including shades of orange, yellow, pink, red, purple and white.
      This is a versatile plant that thrives in hot and sandy areas, producing clusters of brightly colored flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Lantana camara
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-6 feet tall, 1-6 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-11, grown as an annual everywhere else

      Lantana is a fun plant that is often grown as an annual but grows as a shrub in hot climates too! I love to use lantana in my garden’s hot and sandy portions. They produce beautiful clusters of brightly colored flowers and do not require much maintenance other than deadheading for continued blooming. 

      ‘Cherry Sunrise’ produces bicolored clusters of flowers in orange and magenta. If you want something more neutral, try ‘Royale Pina Colada,’ offering light yellow and white flowers, or ‘Bandana White,’ producing creamy white flowers. 

      Lavender

      Close-up of a blooming Lavender in a garden against a blue sky. Lavender plants are small to medium sized shrubs with compact and bushy growth. Lavender leaves are narrow, lanceolate, and green in color. Flower stalks, known as inflorescences, rise above the foliage on long thin stems. Individual flowers are small, tubular, arranged in whorls around the peduncle. They are purple.
      This classic fragrant perennial has silvery green leaves and purple flowers. It thrives in well-drained sandy soil.
      botanical-name botanical name Lavandula spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 2-3 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

      Lavender is well known to many for its aromatic uses. This Mediterranean plant can be grown as a lovely perennial in your garden. The size of your lavender plants will vary depending on which variety you select. Munstead lavender will reach heights of 18 inches while it is in bloom, while English lavender will grow up to three feet! If you are searching for a smaller variety to fill your sandy gardens, try ‘Wee One,’ which only grows to 10 inches tall!

      A few characteristics remain the same no matter which variety you select. The foliage on a lavender plant is small and in a soft shade of silvery green. The famed flowers will appear in the classic purple, while the size of the flowers may change a bit. Lavender thrives in very well-draining soil and is nicely suited for sandy soils. It’s tough and drought-tolerant once established.

      Deadhead spent flowers to promote continued blooming.  In the early fall, give your lavender a nice prune. Be cautious and do not cut into the woody portions of the plant.

      Russian Sage

      Close-up of a flowering Perovskia atriplicifolia plant against a blurred background. The plant has a bushy airy form with thin vertical peduncles. The flowers are small, lavender-blue, tubular.
      This sage is a quick-growing woody perennial that fills gardens with bluish-purple flowers from summer to fall.
      botanical-name botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-4 feet tall, 1-4 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

      Russian sage is a woody perennial that will fill your garden with bluish-purple flowers throughout the summer and fall. This quick-growing plant will produce airy panicle flowers on top of cut leaves that are a soft shade of green. For a small option, plant ‘Little Spire,’ which will only grow to two feet tall. 

      This hardy shrub tolerates many soil types but will thrive in sandy soil. If grown in poorly draining soil, you may run into some issues with root rot. Russian sage is drought tolerant. If you live in cooler zones, cut this plant back in the winter. 

      Salvia

      Close-up of flowering Salvia plants in a sunny garden. The plant has simple leaves arranged oppositely along the stems. They are often lanceolate and have smooth edges. The flowers are purple, small, tubular, with two lips, arranged in dense whorls on tall peduncles.
      Perennial salvia is a beautiful, easy-to-care-for plant with attractive green foliage and tall spiked purple flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Salvia spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-4 feet tall, 1-4 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

      If you are looking for beautiful and easy-to-care-for plants, perennial salvia is the perfect choice. This perennial grows in a very nice mounded shape with attractive medium green foliage. The flowers are tall, spiked, and purple. ‘Violet Queen’ is a lovely variety that produces violet-purple flowers which will bloom in their first season. 

      Perennial salvia is a pretty drought-tolerant plant once it is established in your garden. Snip off the spent flower spikes to promote a second round of blossoms in the early fall. The foliage will turn a soft shade of copper in the fall. Cut the plant to the ground after the first frost. 

      Sea Holly 

      Close-up of flowering Eryngium planum plants in the garden, against a blurred green background. It has an upright and strong stem with branching flower stalks that emerge from the center of the plant. The stems are blue-green in color. The leaves are prickly and deeply lobed, giving the plant a somewhat thistle-like appearance. The foliage is a brilliant green color and the edges of the leaves are covered in spiky serrated edges. The flower heads are globular in shape and consist of many tiny tubular flowers surrounded by spiky bracts that are metallic blue.
      A hardy plant that thrives in sandy soils, sea holly produces globe or egg-shaped clusters of purple or white flowers surrounded by dramatic bracts.
      botanical-name botanical name Eryngium planum
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

      Sea holly is a uniquely flowering plant that will thrive in your sandy soils. This perennial produces globe or egg-shaped clusters of tiny flowers in purple or white. These flower clusters are surrounded by dramatic bracts which mimic the color of the flowers. ‘Steel Blue’ sea holly is a lovely variety that is easy to grow from seed in your garden. 

      Sea holly is very low-maintenance once it is planted in your garden. Its long taproot allows it to thrive without much water. Deadhead spent flowers if you want to prevent the spreading of this plant. However, leaving the flowers to age on the plant provides beautiful winter interest in an otherwise plain garden.

      Silver Mound Artemisia

      Close-up of Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' plants in the garden. It is a compact and low growing perennial herbaceous plant. The plant has silver-gray leaves. The leaves are finely divided and deeply lobed, giving them a feathery, fern-like appearance. The foliage is covered with fine silky hairs that give it a silvery sheen.
      Artemisia is a beautiful, sun-loving plant with fluffy silver foliage and small yellow flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 1 foot tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

      Silver mound artemisia is a beautiful plant grown for its fluffy silver foliage. This plant grows in an attractive mounded shape and fits nicely into border gardens or perennial flower beds. In the summertime, the ‘Silver Mound’ will produce small yellow flowers.

      ‘Silver Mound’ artemisia is evergreen in warmer climates. This plant is sensitive to powdery mildew if the soil lacks drainage. Aside from that, artemisia is low-maintenance and sun-loving. 

      Soaptree Yucca

      Close-up of four Yucca elata plants in a sunny garden. Soaptree Yucca is a perennial evergreen that usually grows as a tree-like shrub with a single stem. The trunk is erect, thick and covered with fibrous flaking bark. The leaves are long, thin and sword-shaped with sharp tips and bluish-gray in color.
      This yucca is a slow-growing plant with blue-green blade-like leaves and occasional creamy white flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Yucca elata
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 6-20 feet tall (when in bloom), 8-10 inches wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-11

      If you have sandy soil and a lot of sun, soaptree yucca is an excellent solution for those areas. Slow growing, the yucca will produce blade-like leaves in hues of blue-green. These leaves will remain attractive all season long.

      The creamy white flowers bloom on top of a woody stem, which gives this plant its dramatic height. When the flowers age, they will make way for interesting seed pods which add drama to your winter gardens. 

      Yucca grows a very long taproot making it difficult to transplant but also making this plant very drought-tolerant. Water your yucca more frequently if you want it to grow quicker. 

      Spider Flower

      Close-up of flowering Spider Flower plants among bright green foliage. The leaves are palmately compound, divided into several leaflets, which radiate from a central point, resembling the fingers of a hand. Each leaf has 5 to 7 lanceolate leaflets with serrated edges. The flowers are collected in inflorescences at the tops of tall stems, forming a racemose or paniculate inflorescence. Each flower has four long, thin petals that are extended outward, resembling spider legs. The flowers are white and purple.
      These flowers are popular annuals with many varieties that can be grown from seeds.
      botanical-name botanical name Cleome spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      height height 1-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11, grown as an annual elsewhere

      One of the more dramatic flowers out there, spider flowers are gaining popularity at nurseries as an annual with many varieties available. You can also plant these flowers by seed. The stems of the spider flower are long and straight, supporting the large clusters of flowers. These flowers lead the way to interesting and attractive seed pods (which will self-sow into your gardens, by the way).

      The ‘Senorita’ line of spider flowers is very popular and makes great additions to your window boxes, containers, or flower beds. If you would rather seed your spider flowers, try the fountain blend. This mix includes pink, purple, and white spider flowers. 

      Once these plants start growing, they do not need much help from you. They do not require much water, and adding mulch to your garden can keep their water needs down even lower. 

      Stonecrop

      Close-up of flowering Stonecrop plants in the garden. The plant has fleshy thick stems and leaves. The leaves are thick, juicy, cylindrical and flattened. They are dark green in color with jagged edges. The flowers are tiny, star-shaped, bright pink, collected in dense flat inflorescences.
      A diverse and resilient genus, stonecrop offers creeping, upright, and mat-forming varieties.
      botanical-name botanical name Sedum spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      Stonecrop, also known as sedum, is a very large genus. No matter your need in your garden, there is a stonecrop for you. From creeping, upright, and mat-forming, these resilient perennials can beautify any part of your garden. ‘Autumn Joy’ is a popular upright-growing sedum with light green foliage and red clusters of tiny flowers. ‘Blue Spruce’ produces blue-green foliage that forms an evergreen mat!

      Whichever variety you select, your sandy and sunny gardens will thank you. Plant stonecrop in full sun and well-draining soil, and you can mostly forget about the plant. For added winter interest, you can deadhead spent flowers or leave them on the plant. 

      Tickseed

      Close-up of blooming Coreopsis in a sunny garden. It is a herbaceous perennial with bright yellow flowers. They look like daisies, solitary. They have a prominent central disc which contains many tiny flowers surrounded by colorful ray flowers.
      This resilient wildflower is renowned for its prolific blooming of beautiful yellow flowers in summer and attractive narrow leaves.
      botanical-name botanical name Coreopsis spp.
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-10

      Tickseed, also known as coreopsis, is famed for its beautiful yellow flowers that bloom prolifically throughout the summer months. This perennial produces narrow leaves that are attractive whether or not the plant is in bloom. Plains coreopsis produces yellow and red flowers while growing to 2 feet tall, while ‘Incredible! Swirl‘ produces deep red flowers with white edges. 

      Tickseed attracts birds, butterflies, and other pollinators into your garden. Plant tickseed in full sun. This perennial is tolerant of many soil types. Shear the plant back when the flowers fade, and prepare for a second round of blooms!

      Treasure Flower

      The Treasure Flower, scientifically known as Gazania rigens, is a vibrant and attractive flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Close-up of four blooming flowers in a sunny garden. The leaves are lanceolate, green and slightly succulent in texture. The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette, with each leaf emerging from the base of the plant. The flowers are bright yellow and consist of central discs surrounded by elongated petals. This central disk contains many tiny inflorescences that combine to give the appearance of a small button or eye in the middle of the flower.
      The treasure flower is a warm-weather perennial with daisy-like flowers in vibrant colors.
      botanical-name botanical name Gazania rigens
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-2 feet tall, 1 foot wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-11

      The treasure flower, which also goes by the name African daisy, is a warm-weather perennial often planted as an annual. The daisy-like flowers bloom in a vibrant array of colors. If you have difficulty choosing one color, try planting the sunshine blend, which will bloom in varying warm shades such as red, orange, and yellow. 

      If you are growing your treasure flowers from seed, you can expect to see flowers about 12 weeks after planting. These plants are drought tolerant and love growing in well-draining soil, such as sandy soils. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms!

      Yarrow

      Close-up of a flowering Yarrow in a sunny garden, against a blurred background of green foliage. It has feathery, fern-like foliage that ranges in color from dark green to silver green. The flowers are small, white, collected in flat umbellate inflorescences.
      This rugged perennial flower thrives in poor sandy soil, producing feathery foliage and long-lasting flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Achillea millefolium
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-3 feet tall
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

      This rugged perennial flower is known for its ability to withstand drought and grow well in poor sandy soil. Yarrow has ancient healing properties, which brought this plant so much popularity. ‘Apricot Delight’ produces orange-peach-colored flowers and is semi-evergreen.

      ‘Firefly Diamond’ offers a start white option for your gardens. If you prefer a wildflower look, try direct-sowing Colorado Blend right into your gardens. 

      Yarrow has feathery, fern-like foliage ranging from deep green to silvery green. The flowers are long-lasting. Deadhead spent flowers to promote a second round of blossoms while preventing this plant from going to seed and self-sowing in your garden. If you are okay with your yarrow spreading, allow the flowers to mature on your plant. 

      Zinnia

      Close-up of two zinnia flowers blooming in the garden. The flowers are medium sized, double, daisy-like, with a central disc surrounded by colorful petals. The petals are oval, bright pink, arranged in several layers. Zinnia leaves are green, lanceolate.
      Zinnias come in various colors and sizes and bloom all summer, perfect for borders or the front of perennial gardens.
      botanical-name botanical name Zinnia elegans
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      height height 1-4 feet tall, 6 inches to 2 feet wide
      hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11, Annual

      Zinnias are a really fun annual to add to your summer gardens. These brightly colored flowers come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Senora zinnias bloom in salmon-pink into 3-5 inch blossoms, reaching heights of 3-4 feet tall! If you would like a smaller variety, try Thumbelina. This variety is multicolored and will only reach 16 inches in height. Perfect for borders or the front of your perennial garden. 

      Zinnias are easy to care for and will bloom all summer, providing color to your gardens and bouquets for months to come. Sow seeds in the spring, or purchase nursery starts once the weather warms up. 

      Final Thoughts 

      Adding any of these 35 flowers to your sandy soils will instantly add low-maintenance beauty to your garden. These plants will grow well in other soil types as well. Just be wary, as the outcomes may be different. Plants that like well-draining soil may struggle with fungal diseases if grown in too moist a climate. 

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