Gardening in Chicagoland's heavy clay soils can be quite challenging. Although clay soils tend to be rich in nutrients, they often lack the air space essential for good drainage. Many plants will not tolerate soils that are constantly moist or wet, however; the plants listed in the table below are naturally adapted to perform well in these less than ideal conditions. Moist soil is defined as constantly damp, but rarely exposed to standing water. Wet soil is defined as saturated, with occasional exposure (less than 1 day) to standing surface water. Flood tolerant plants can withstand a few days of standing water from events such as spring snowmelt and heavy seasonal rains.
SMALL TO MEDIUM TREES - 15 to 25 FEET
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Arborvitae, Eastern | Thuja occidentalis | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Arborvitae, Western | Thuja plicata | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Dogwood, Corneliancherry | Cornus mas | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Fringetree | Chionanthus virginicus | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Hornbeam, American | Carpinus caroliniana | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier | Full Sun, Part Sun |
LARGE TREES - 25 to 60 FEET
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Aspen, Quacking | Populus tremuloides | Full Sun | |
| Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Birch, River | Betula nigra | Full Sun | X |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | Full Sun | |
| Dawn Redwood | Metasequoia glyptostroboides | Full Sun | |
| Elm | Ulmus | Full Sun | |
| Honeylocust | Gleditsia | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Katsuratree | Cercidiphyllum japonicum | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Maple, Freeman | Acer freemanii | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Maple, Red | Acer rubrum | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Oak, Bur | Quercus macrocarpa | Full Sun | |
| Oak, Swamp White | Quercus bicolor | Full Sun | X |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | Full Sun | |
| Tulip Tree | Liriodendron tulipifera | Full Sun | |
| Willow | Salix | Full Sun | X |
SHRUBS
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Bayberry, Northern | Myrica pensylvanica | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Buckeye, Bottlebrush | Aesculus parviflora | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Buckeye, Red | Aesculus pavia | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Carolina Allspice | Calycanthus floridus | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Chokeberry | Aronia | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Clethra, Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Dogwood, Gray | Cornus racemosa | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Dogwood, Redtwig | Cornus alba/sericea | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Elderberry | Sambucus | Full Sun | |
| Forsythia | Forsythia | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera tatarica | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Ninebark | Physocarpus opulifolius | Full Sun | |
| Privet | Ligustrum vulgare | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Stephanandra, Cutleaf | Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa' | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Viburnum, American Cranberrybush | Viburnum trilobum | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Viburnum, American Cranberryush Compact | Viburnum trilobum ‘Compactum’ | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Viburnum, Arrowwood | Viburnum dentatum | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Viburnum, Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Viburnum, European Cranberrybush | Viburnum opulus | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Viburnum, Mohican | Viburnum lantana ‘Mohican’ | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Virginia Sweetspire | Itea virginica | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Willow | Salix | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Witchhazel, Fall | Hamamelis viginiana | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Witchhazel, Spring | Hamamelis vernalis | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
VINES
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Akebia, Fiveleaf | Akebia quinata | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Climbing Hydrangea | Hydrangea anomala s. petiolaris | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Japanese Hydrangea-vine | Schizophragma hydrangeoides | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Trumpet | Campsis | Full Sun, Part Sun |
PERENNIALS
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Amsonia, Willow | Amsonia tabernaemontana | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Astilbe | Astilbe | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Bleeding Heart | Dicentra | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Celadine Poppy | Stylophorum diphyllum | Part Sun | |
| Chinese Globeflower | Trollius chinensis | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Cimicifuga, Bugbane | Actaea | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis varieties | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis sylvatica | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Goatsbeard | Aruncus dioicus | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Hardy Hibiscus | Hibiscus | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Hosta | Hosta | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Houttuynia | Houttuynia cordata | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Iris, Blue Flag | Iris versicolor | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Iris, Japanese | Iris ensata | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Iris, Siberian | Iris sibirica | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Iris, Variegated Sweet Flag | Iris pallida ‘Variegata' | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Iris, Yellow Flag | Iris pseudacorus | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Lady's Mantle | Alchemilla mollis | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Leopard's Bane | Doronicum | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Ligularia | Ligularia | Part Sun | X |
| Lobelia, Great Blue | Lobelia siphilitica | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Loosestrife | Lysimachia | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Masterwort | Astrantia major | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Meadow Rue | Thalictrum aquilegifolium | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Monkshood | Aconitum | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Obedient Plant | Physostegia virginiana | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Queen of the Prairie | Filipendula | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Rodgersia | Rodgersia | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Snakeroot, Bugbane | Cimicifuga racemosa | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Solomon's Seal | Polygonatum | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Spiderwort | Tradescantia virginiana | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Turtlehead | Chelone | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Umbrella Plant | Darmera peltatum | Full Sun, Part Sun | X |
| Violet | Viola | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Virginia Bluebells | Mertensia virginica | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Wild Ginger | Asarum canadensis | Part Sun, Shade |
FERNS
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Cinnamon | Osmunda cinnamonea | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Hay Scented | Dennstaedtia punctilobula | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Interrupted | Osmunda claytonia | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Lady | Athyrium filix-femina | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Maidenhair | Adiantum pedatum | Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Ostrich | Matteuccia pensylvanica | Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Royal | Osmunda regalis | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
| Sensitive | Onoclea sensibilis | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | X |
GRASSES and SEDGE
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Cord Grass | Spartina pectinata | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Japanese Blood Grass, Red Baron | Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron' | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Maiden Grass | Miscanthus sinensis | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Pampas Grass | Cortaderia (annual) | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Ravenna, Hardy Pampas Grass | Erianthus ravennae | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Sedge | Carex | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Switch Grass | Panicum virgatum | Full Sun, Part Sun |
GROUNDCOVER
| Common Name | Botanic Name | Light | Flood Tolerant |
| Ajuga, Bugleweed | Ajuga reptans | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade | |
| Ivy, Thorndale English | Hedera helix 'Thorndale' | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Japanese Spurge, Pachysandra | Pachysandra terminalis | Part Sun, Shade | |
| Lilyturf | Liriope spicata | Full Sun, Part Sun | |
| Wintercreeper, Purpleleaf | Euonymus coloratus | Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
| Full Sun: 6 hours direct sun | Part Sun: 4 hours direct sun | Shade: less than 3 hours dirct sun |
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