15 Plants That Grow in Shallow Soil

Having a garden with shallow soil can seem limiting, but it doesn’t have to be! There are many beautiful plants that thrive in shallow soil depths. With a bit of planning and the right plant choices, you can have a gorgeous and vibrant garden, even where soil is sparse.

In this article, we’ll look at 15 great options for plants that grow in shallow soil. We’ll cover flowering plants, foliage plants, ground covers, herbs, vegetables and more.

Why Choose Shallow-Rooted Plants?

Here are some of the benefits of using plants adapted to shallow soils

• They prevent erosion on slopes or banks where soil depth is minimal Their roots stabilize the soil.

• Shallow-rooted plants are ideal for covering bare patches where soil is thin. Their spreading growth habit quickly fills gaps

• They are perfect choices for rock gardens, crevice gardens, green roofs, and planting above underground pipes or structures.

• Plants with shallow roots leave deep soil layers untouched. This avoids competition with deeper-rooted trees and shrubs.

• Shallow-rooted plants are easier to transplant since their root systems are compact and contained.

Flowers That Thrive in Thin Soils

Flowers add so much cheer and color to a garden. Luckily there are many flowering plants adapted to shallow soils. Here are some top picks:

Moss Rose

Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a colorful annual flower with a shallow, spreading root system. It forms low mats of succulent foliage just 3-6 inches high. From summer until frost, it bears single and double flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow and white.

Zinnia

Zinnia is another annual flower that grows well in shallow soil. The brightly colored, daisy-like blooms come in a rainbow of hues on plants ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet tall. Good drainage is key, but zinnias thrive even in poor, sandy soils.

Marigold

A versatile annual, marigolds have shallow roots allowing them to grow well in thin soils. The brightly colored flowers bloom from summer until frost. Marigolds range in size from 6 inches to 3 feet tall. Fun fact: marigolds have nectar tubes that butterflies can access, unlike other shallow flowers.

Phlox

For a perennial option, try phlox (Phlox subulata). This spring wildflower spreads into a carpet covered in pink, purple, white or blue flowers. It grows just 4 to 6 inches tall but can spread over 12 inches wide in shallow, poor soils.

Foliage Plants With Shallow Roots

If you’re looking for interest from colorful or shapely foliage, these shallow-rooted plants are excellent choices:

Heuchera

Heuchera, also called coral bells, comes in many varieties with purple, silver, chartreuse, ruffled and speckled foliage. An asset for shade gardens, heuchera grows just 1-2 feet tall and spreads by rhizomes that form close to the soil surface.

Sedum

Another perennial succulent, sedum forms carpets of colorful foliage in blue, purple and variegated shades. Their shallow roots easily adapt to crevices between pavers, rocks and green roofs. Sedum spreads 1-2 feet wide and 6-18 inches tall.

Ornamental Oregano

Gold, silver and variegated leaf forms of edible oregano provide vivid color and rich texture. This Mediterranean herb has shallow roots, spreading via rhizomes and stolons. Ornamental oregano grows 6-12 inches tall.

Baby’s Tears

The delicate foliage of baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) makes a lush emerald green carpet in shaded areas. It has tiny round leaves on trailing stems with roots along the nodes. Baby’s tears spreads rapidly across poor, thin soils.

Ground Covers for Shallow Soils

Need a plant to quickly cover bare ground? These rugged ground covers have shallow, spreading roots perfect for thin soils:

Creeping Phlox

In spring, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) blankets the ground with carpets of pink, purple, blue or white flowers on a mat of needle-like evergreen foliage. It grows just 4-6 inches tall but spreads 1-2 feet wide even in poor, gravely soils.

Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme makes an aromatic evergreen ground cover. The tiny leaves release a pleasant scent when stepped on. Creeping thyme grows just 2-4 inches tall but spreads 1-2 feet wide. It thrives even in thin, poor soils and tolerates some foot traffic.

Moss

Moss thrives in the thinnest layer of soil and tolerates deep shade. Over 100 species grow across North America, providing an emerald green living carpet. The tiny plants have shallow rhizoids instead of roots. Keep moss moist for the lushest growth.

Irish Moss

Irish moss (Sagina subulata) forms a dense, moss-like ground cover of tiny emerald leaves on creeping stems. It grows just 1-4 inches tall but spreads steadily. Irish moss tolerates foot traffic and periods of drought in thin, poor soils.

Creeping Jenny

For damp, shaded soil, few plants grow as vigorously as creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia). The trailing stems sport round leaves and cup-shaped yellow flowers as they spread rapidly across moist, poor soils to form a dense ground cover.

Herbs That Grow In Shallow Soil

Many prized culinary herbs actually prefer thin, less fertile soils. Here are some great choices:

Chives

Chives thrive in average to poor soils and grow readily from seed. The grass-like leaves provide a mild onion flavor. Chives grow in clumps 8-12 inches tall and can be continually harvested.

Thyme

A staple herb for shallow soils, thyme grows slowly into a woody perennial mat just 4-12 inches tall. It needs well-drained soil and full sun. Once established, thyme requires little care and withstands drought and trampling.

Oregano

Like thyme, oregano thrives in lean soils with excellent drainage. It forms bushy plants 12-24 inches tall with aromatic leaves. Oregano will spread slowly via rhizomes and stolons to cover thin soil. Pinch back tips to encourage full, compact growth.

Vegetables For Shallow Soils

While most vegetables need fertile, deep soil, these shallow-rooted crops can succeed in as little as 6 inches of soil:

Radishes

Fast-growing radishes mature in just 4-6 weeks from seed, making them idea for areas with thin soils. They form crisp, flavorful roots that come in many fun shapes, colors and flavors.

Lettuce

Lettuce prefers consistently moist, fertile soils, but some varieties will tolerate average conditions. Focus on looseleaf and mesclun mixes which have shallow roots versus heading lettuce types.

Peas

Peas send their roots down just 6-12 inches deep to fix nitrogen. They prefer cool conditions and can be planted very early. Choose compact types like dwarf grey sugar peas for the very best results in shallow settings.

Beets

While beets grow best in deep, rich soil, they can tolerate less ideal conditions. Go for quick-maturing baby beet varieties which take just 30-45 days from seed to harvest.

More Tips for Growing in Shallow Soil

To get the most out of a thin layer of soil, keep these tips in mind:

• Improve drainage by creating raised beds and adding gravel, sand or small rocks to the soil mix.

• Use drought-tolerant varieties suited to lean soils. Avoid lush, thirsty plants.

• Mulch heavily to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Organic mulches like wood chips also improve poor soils over time.

• Fertilize lightly to avoid excessive top growth. Focus on slow-release organic fertilizers.

• Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep rooting in shallow soil. Avoid frequent shallow watering.

• Group plants with different root depths together. This avoids competition and makes the most of every inch of soil.

With smart plant choices and care, there are still many options for creating a beautiful garden, even where soil is sparse. The plants above offer diversity of color, texture and form to transform thin soils into a thriving oasis.