July 15, 2025, 8:59 am | Read time: 4 minutes
No fear of sandy soils! There are plenty of plants that thrive on sandy soils: plants that have “sand” in their name, various Mediterranean herbs, and numerous wildflowers. myHOMEBOOK author Katharina Petzholdt introduces you to some species.
The Characteristics of Sandy Soil
Sandy soils are often considered challenging, but they do offer some advantages: They are easy to work with, well-aerated, easy to root through, and warm up faster in spring than heavy soils. At the same time, they have typical weaknesses: They hardly retain water, struggle to hold nutrients, and dry out quickly after rain.
Many plants can’t cope with this. What is problematic for most species is advantageous for some. They withstand dry periods, manage with few nutrients, and bring color and life to the garden even in difficult locations.
Plants with “Sand” in Their Name
When “sand” is already in the name, it’s often a clear indication of the preferred location.
- Sand Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): low-growing, fragrant ground cover with pink-purple flowers from June to September
- Sand Strawflower (Helichrysum arenarium): small golden-yellow flower heads from July to October, silvery-gray foliage, up to 30 cm tall
- Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius): delicate, fringed white flowers from June to August, cushion-like growth, up to 20 cm tall
- Sand Sea Thrift (Armeria elongata): pink flower balls on slender stems from June to September, up to 40 cm tall
- Sand Broom (Genista pilosa): dwarf shrub up to 40 cm tall with numerous yellow flowers from May to July
Mediterranean Herbs
Herbs from the Mediterranean region naturally grow on sandy, well-drained, and often nutrient-poor soils, usually in sunny locations. These conditions favor the development of intense aromas in many species.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): woody small shrub with small, strongly scented leaves and pink flowers
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): upright growing small shrub with needle-like leaves and violet-blue lip flowers
- Sage (Salvia officinalis): subshrub with silvery-haired, aromatic leaves and violet flower spikes
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): subshrub with gray-green, elongated leaves and violet, fragrant flower spikes
- Greek Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica): small shrub with pale yellow lip flowers, whose gray-green leaves resemble sage
Related: Gardening Properly on Sandy Soils
Silver-Leaved Plants
Silvery or felted leaves reflect sunlight and reduce evaporation. Many of these species come from steppe-like regions or the Mediterranean and thrive particularly well on well-drained, sandy soils.
- Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): loosely branched subshrub with silvery stems and lavender-blue flower spikes, up to 120 cm tall
- Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina): perennial with dense, silvery-velvety leaves and pink flower spikes, up to 60 cm tall
- Curry Plant (Helichrysum italicum): subshrub with curry-scented foliage and yellow flower heads, up to 50 cm tall
- Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): subshrub with large, silvery-gray foliage and yellow flower heads, up to 100 cm tall
Wildflowers for Sandy Soil
Where the soil is sandy, dry, and nutrient-poor, wildflowers often bloom. They are an important source of nectar and pollen for a variety of wild bees and butterflies.
- Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare): biennial, upright plant with blue-violet flowers, up to 100 cm tall
- Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis): delicate violet to light pink flowering wild perennial with a blooming period from May to August, up to 80 cm tall
- Carthusian Pink (Dianthus carthusianorum): wild perennial with simple, fringed, bright pink flowers on thin stems, up to 50 cm tall
- Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia): a wild perennial blooming from May to September with blue-violet, bell-shaped flowers, up to 25 cm tall
- Wild Carrot (Daucus carota): biennial plant with white, umbel-shaped flower clusters, up to 100 cm tall
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Grasses for Sandy Soil
Grasses add movement and structure to the garden. Some of them thrive very well on sandy soils.
- Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca): ornamental grass with blue-gray blades that grows in hemispherical clumps, up to 25 cm tall
- Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima): clump-forming, delicate and elegant-looking grass, up to 50 cm tall
- Amethyst Fescue (Festuca amethystina): clump-forming grass with bluish-green, arching foliage, up to 80 cm tall
- Blue Moor Grass (Koeleria glauca): clump-forming gray-green grass that looks quite similar to blue fescue, up to 30 cm tall