Plants for chalky soil

Chalky (alkaline) soil suits lavender, butterfly bush, oak, beech, clematis, bellflowers, pinks and many Mediterranean perennials. These species tolerate the high pH at which acid-lovers struggle. In the atlas you can filter them by the "alkaline" soil reaction.

Chalky soils are often shallow, quick to dry out and low in nutrients, so it's worth enriching them with compost and manure. This improves water retention and nutrient supply, though it barely changes the pH. Don't try to acidify such soil drastically — it's easier to match plants to its reaction.

Chalky soil fails acid-loving plants: rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries, heathers, camellias and many conifers. They turn yellow from chlorosis because the high pH blocks iron uptake. If you want them, grow them in pots or beds of acidic compost, kept separate from the chalky ground.