What kinds of plants grow best in sandy soil?

Paula
by Paula
I grew tomatoes last year and peppers, I want to plant some perennials but since water goes through the soil so fast, I may need plants that don't require much water.
  6 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jan 13, 2014
    I'm sure we could come up with some suggestions for you, Mara, if you tell us where you live and whether you are looking for perennials for sun or shade.
  • Carly Swirtz Carly Swirtz on Jan 13, 2014
    Cosmos,Lavender,Yarrow, Beach Rose, and Blanket Flower do well in sandy soil. But you need to water more frequently and deeply. Also use fertilizer as sandy soil does not hold nutrients well.
  • Cynthia E Cynthia E on Jan 13, 2014
    I see you want perennials but what zone are you in? It will help tell you what are best plants for sandy soil in your zone.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 14, 2014
    Put in some different colored grasses. Here is a photo of the varigated, green, whitish (dusty Miller) and a maroon accent grass you can find at any nursery (HD, Lowes too). This stays beautiful from early spring until December...and survives the cold! Never wilts but you can add a couple of flowers like Gerber Daisies in the spring for color!
  • Teresa Watkins Teresa Watkins on Jan 14, 2014
    Mara, this Waterwise Landscape Database is excellent for searching plants that will grow in dry soils. http://publicserver2.sjrwmd.com/waterwise/search.jsp Just put your conditions in and every native and nonnative flower, shrub, tree, and more for Zones 8 - 11 will come up.
  • You might like Baby's Breath, salvias, rudbeckia, poppies, statice, candy tuft. These are all hardy to at least zone 5.