Common Violet

The common violet (Viola odorata) is a key source of early-season food for bees and other pollinators. However, it’s considered a weed by some because of its resilience and ability to thrive in inhospitable areas. But violets contribute various benefits to your soil, says Tess Renusch, senior coordinator on the native plant habitat team at the National Wildlife Federation. Its fibrous roots help to loosen compacted soil, and its dense growth and robust root system help prevent soil erosion and runoff. Plus, its foliage helps shade the soil, keeping it cool and reducing evaporation.

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 4 to 6 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide
• Care requirements: Partial shade; well-draining soil

Goldenrod

Goldenrod (Solidago) is identifiable by its showy, bright yellow flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall, says Renusch. “Goldenrod is a crucial late-season nectar and pollen source for native bees, moths, migrating butterflies, and other beneficial insects when other blooms may be scarce,” says Renusch. It’s also a larval host plant for numerous species of butterflies and moths.

This plant has a deep, fibrous, and extensive root system that anchors the soil, helping to prevent erosion, especially on slopes and disturbed ground. It creates channels that aerate the soil and enhance water infiltration, resulting in improved drainage and overall soil health, she says.

The foliage and hardy stems provide shelter for small animals and insects during the winter. “As a perennial, goldenrod adds organic matter to the soil as its roots and foliage naturally decompose,” says Renusch.

• Zones: 2 to 8
• Size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 4 to 5 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; average to dry, well-draining soil

Clover

Clover (and its other legume cousins) improves soil through the beneficial bacteria in its roots that fix nitrogen. “These bacteria capture atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a form usable by plants, essentially acting as natural soil amendments,” says McCabe. “Allowing patches of these plants to thrive can reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, fostering a more eco-friendly weed control strategy and contributing to sustainable gardening.” Some gardeners even let clover (Trifolium repens) take over their landscape in place of turf grass.

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Size: 4 to 6 inches tall x 12 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Chicory

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) has deep roots that allow it to reduce soil compaction while improving nutrient cycling, says Heather Stoven, horticulturalist at Oregon State University. “Chicory utilizes water and nutrients deep in the soil profile, which is often inaccessible to other plants,” she says. As the chicory decomposes after its growing season, it releases those nutrients into upper soil levels, creating a richer, healthier soil for other plants.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Dandelion

Though dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) may not be part of your vision of a flawless lawn, they can be surprisingly beneficial to your soil. “The flowers are a bright, sunny yellow and feed pollinators,” says Stoven. The wind disperses dandelion seeds to various locations near and far, which is why these plants are considered weeds by many.

Despite their negative reputation, dandelions can benefit your garden. “The roots of the dandelion are like carrots and help push air into the soil,” says gardening expert Adrienne Roethling, adding that this creates a healthier environment for the roots of surrounding plants. Plus, every part of the dandelion is edible and nutrient-rich.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 2 to 6 inches tall x 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea), native to every state in the country except Hawaii, decreases soil erosion and runoff, says Stoven. “Due to its creeping underground stems and ability to grow via new seedlings, this plant can be considered a weed,” she says. “But it has deep roots which can also break up compacted soils and add to nutrient cycling. In addition, the small flowers are excellent as nectar and pollen sources for beneficial insects.”

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Chickweed

Recognizable by its small, white, star-shaped flowers, chickweed (Stellaria media) is a cool-weather annual that blooms in various conditions, including moist or dry soil, sunny or shady spots, and most United States climates, says Roethling. “Though this plant is edible, has health benefits, and attracts pollinators, it can be a nuisance in the winter landscape,” she says. However, chickweed’s roots combat soil erosion and add nutrients to the soil, says Roethling. The plant can also work as “a living mulch, suppressing less desirable weeds while keeping the soil cool and moist,” says McCabe.

• Zones: 4 to 11
• Size: 4 to 20 inches tall x 4 to 20 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

American Plantain

Low, leafy American plantain (Plantago rugelii) grows a rosette of egg-shaped leaves, blooming with greenish-white flowers in summer and fall. “Its most distinctive feature is a reddish or purplish tinge at the base of the leaf stalk that extends up the stalk,” says Renusch.

The plant’s fibrous root system works against erosion, while a short and stout taproot loosens compacted dirt, says Renusch. “American plantain thrives in challenging areas and creates conditions where other plants can thrive as well,” she says. “Root channels created by plantain help water drain more efficiently through the soil, creating conditions that allow other plants and beneficial soil microbes to thrive and access nutrients more effectively.”

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 4 to 8 inches tall x 2 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full to partial sun; fertile, loamy soil