You might consider Hosta, but if you have lots of deer you may not be successful with it. The flowers are held above the leaves on stalks and are rather bell-shaped. Color ranges from lavender to white, some varieties are fragrant.

One plant that comes to mind is Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan). It's hardy, and tolerates both light shade and light clay. And, what about gathering some Lupine seeds to scatter around? I've incorporated Lupines into a couple of gardens and they work out wonderfully. Dahlias have become for me a colorful 'plug-in', and might be nice for you, too. Do amend the soil in the spot where you will put them in.

I feel like naming hardy plants is putting the cart before the horse in this instance. The harsh reality is, if you want plants, you're going to have to amend your soil. You are the intelligent one here--you don't have to let the clay beat you.

It might be helpful for you to have a big bag of peat around so you can mix a bit in with your Moo-Doo. Just the mention of the word 'clay' makes my back tired; I send my sympathy. You can turn things around with respect to your soil, though. Each time you introduce a new plant, dig a hole ten times the size of the root ball. Ten is an arbitrary number; the idea is to get rid of the clay, and I have to believe if the hole is big enough, and the material you fill it with is a mix of compost/peat, you should keep the clay at bay, so to say. I 'off' clay and other unwanted soil in low spots in the woods-one load here and there.

I've used a bag or two of Moo-Doo, and I seem to recall it as really dense stuff; but it could be that it was wet. Perhaps you might consider using one of the fluffier composts, some of which I hesitate to call compost they are so fluffy. I associate 'fluffy' with pine products, fine--if in proportion to other organic materials.

I am using three different bulk composts this season. I've not taken the time to analyze any of them. I imagine that each batch/truckload varies somewhat. I don't rely on the compost for soil nutrients so much as wholesale soil amendment. One pile is really 'fluffy'; one is dense, stinky with fish products, and has an almost coarse texture. The dogs roll in it. I've come to the conclusion that adding a few shovelfulls of moistened peat to each wheelbarrow load of this stuff is a good idea. And the third pile seems heavenly all on it's own.

Best wishes--

Maureen

Joanie D.

Also what is the sun like in this spot, do you get less than 5-6 hours a day min of sun? Would be hard to grow most sun loving plants there. There is a # of plants that would do well. If you have really really heavy clay that drys out in the summer, forgot about growing anything. I hate clay as well, my veggie garden this year was dug out of a clay pit =). But doesnt sound as bad as yours, I added grass clippings, a cubic foot of peat moss a black bag of shredded and partially decomposed leaves, and a few wheel barrow loads of compost mix. I then turned everything over by hand to about 8-12 inches deep. Seemed to work so far. (I also put a few handfulls of potting soil under each plant or seed I dropped in) If all else fails dig up all of the clay as you can down at least two feet or something like that, add a mixture of bagged top soil mixed with peat/sand/grass clippings, partially decomposed humas such as leaf mold. Ive done this with some beds, it works well enough to grow most items.

Interestingly, my soil is nearly the opposite of the OP's. I have real woodland soil; rich, dark, peaty, and well-drained. About the only things I can't grow with ease are those things that prefer lean, sharply drained soil, and full sun.

Can't grow a Shasta daisey, Achillea, struggle to site Sedums and German iris in places that they will really love... . And I had to really amend the soil in two very well prepared beds to accomodate peonies.

Amending the heavy clay soil with liberal amounts of organic matter will make your situation easier... but it will require time and patience to get there. Start right away, and hang in there, Trickle!

My sincerest apologies. I realized I had mis-addressed the message after I posted it. However, my earlier attempts to acknowledge my mistake were futile. I could not post a follow-up message to the forum.

Perhaps this message will post. To me, the discussion itself takes precedence over the personalities. But I do apologize for misappropriating your name.

Warmly,

Maureen

Joanie D.

As for some perennials, you could try foxglove. It's poisonous, so deer won't touch it, and it grows well in poor soil and shade. Monkshood's another poisonous spire that does well in poor soil and shade, but it's so poisonous, I wouldn't recommend it if you have kids. I got rid of mine. Both of these are eurasian natives. If you want to go the native route, which is probably the best idea considering your location, you can try mayapples, trillium, jack in the pulpit, lady's slipper, blue flag iris (which is really hard to kill), Viola labridorica, actaea, columbine, and yes, rudbeckia.

Hope this helps!

I know how easy it is to get confused and type in the wrong thing, too, Maureen... don't sweat it, I sure won't!

:)

Dan