I’ve always had a soft spot for chaos gardening—the kind of gardening that welcomes a little mess, leans into nature’s rhythm, and rewards experimentation more than precision. But chaos doesn’t mean careless. Especially when you’re working with sandy soil, which can be fast-draining, nutrient-poor, and sometimes just plain stubborn.
If your garden beds lean dry and gritty, you’re not out of luck. You’re in the perfect spot for a chaos-style explosion of wildflowers, self-sowers, and drought-lovers. Here are 14 of my favorite chaos garden flowers that actually prefer sandy soil.
Quickly Find Flowers That Grow Well In Sand:
🌺 1. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
There’s something delightfully no-nonsense about California poppies. They don’t demand rich soil or constant watering. In fact, they thrive in the kind of conditions that leave other flowers sulking.
These poppies bloom in oranges, creams, pinks, and whites, with a papery texture that shimmers in the light. Once established, they self-sow readily and pop up in charming little patches every spring. I’ve found them especially good for filling the gaps between more dramatic bloomers.
🌸 2. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos are practically synonymous with chaos gardens. Their feathery foliage and floating flower heads dance in the wind, adding height and softness in equal measure.
They’re perfectly content in sandy soil and don’t need much feeding to thrive. I like sowing them in layers, with some early and some mid-season, so the patch feels like it’s always in motion. Butterflies love them, and so do I.
🌻 3. Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria or lanceolata)
If you want a cheerful daisy-like bloom that doesn’t blink at sandy soil, Coreopsis is your flower. With golden yellows or red-tinted petals, they look like tiny sunbursts dotting the garden.
They reseed easily and tend to pop up in the least expected corners. I once found a lone Coreopsis blooming in the gravel path next to my garden. That’s the kind of surprise I live for in a chaos plot.
🔥 4. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
Blanket flowers are wild-looking in the best way. They bloom in sunset tones of reds, oranges, and golds and look like they’ve been painted with a dry brush.
They’re tough, pollinator-friendly, and love sandy, dry spots. They spread gently without taking over and bloom through heat and drought. I find they help visually tie together a bed full of otherwise unrelated flowers.
🌼 5. Yellow Chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria)
This isn’t the kind of chamomile you make tea with, but it’s a standout all the same. Yellow chamomile, or golden marguerite, thrives in dry, sandy soils and adds a vibrant jolt of color.
It’s low-maintenance, blends beautifully with blue and purple flowers, and holds its own in full sun. Bees seem to adore it, and I appreciate the way it softens the edges of rockier areas.
🐝 6. Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
The spotted variety of bee balm isn’t as flashy as the classic scarlet types, but it’s far better suited for sandy soil. It’s drought-tolerant, aromatic, and an absolute magnet for pollinators.
The tiered, pink-lavender bracts are surprisingly architectural. I like planting them near paths where I can brush past and get that minty scent. Bonus: they keep coming back with minimal effort.
🏶 7. Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
There’s nothing quite like Love-in-a-Mist. The finely cut foliage looks like it belongs in a fairytale, and the flowers come in muted blues, purples, and whites.
It thrives in sandy soil and reseeds just enough to keep things feeling wild but not overwhelming. I always let a few go to seed. The dried pods are just as charming as the blooms.
🎀 8. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila elegans)
Baby’s breath isn’t just for bouquets. In the garden, it fills in the spaces between bolder blooms and adds a soft, cloudlike texture that balances the chaos.
It prefers poor, sandy soils and grows quickly from seed. I treat it almost like a fog machine for the garden bed. A little mist that makes everything else stand out just a bit more.
🌸 9. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias are the reliable workhorses of my summer garden. Bold, bright, and consistent, they don’t need much beyond sun and a patch of ground that drains well.
They also hold their color beautifully, even in dry stretches. I like the taller varieties for their upright structure, and the pollinators love them. Plus, they reseed in surprising places.
🏵️ 10. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are often underestimated, but in a sandy-soil chaos garden, they shine. They germinate fast, bloom for ages, and bring that rich, spicy scent to the garden mix.
I tuck them into corners where I want something short but showy. They mix well with taller wildflowers and help deter certain pests while they’re at it.
💚 11. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow doesn’t just tolerate sandy soil. It seems to thrive on neglect. The flat-topped blooms hover over ferny foliage and give the garden a casual sense of structure.
It’s great for pollinators, and once it’s settled in, it’ll come back year after year with very little help. I especially like the pastel-colored cultivars for their softness.
🔹 12. Blue Flax (Linum perenne)
Blue flax has a quiet presence with slender stems, soft blue blooms, and a habit of swaying with the breeze. It looks fragile, but it’s surprisingly tough.
This one loves full sun and sandy, open spaces. I find it works best planted in little pockets where its movement can be appreciated, like near paths or around larger anchor plants.
🏵️ 13. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Nasturtiums might be best known for containers, but when they get their roots into sandy soil and full sun, they really take off. They ramble, climb, and self-seed with glee.
They also happen to be edible, adding a peppery bite to salads. I let them sprawl over garden edges or climb up stakes for a little vertical chaos.
💜 14. Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)
Native to coastal cliffs and dunes, Sea Thrift is a compact perennial that handles sand like a pro. The tufts of grassy foliage and lollipop-like pink flowers bring structure to chaos.
I’ve found it especially useful in creating visual breaks between sprawling plants. Its tidy mounds act like punctuation marks in a sentence, giving just enough order to keep the chaos looking intentional.
Final Thoughts
Creating a chaos garden in sandy soil isn’t just doable. It’s fun. With the right mix of self-sowing annuals and tough perennials, you can have a constantly shifting, pollinator-friendly patch that feels spontaneous but works with your environment, not against it.
These 14 flowers are just a starting point. Once you let a few of them go to seed, the garden starts to take on a life of its own. That’s when the real magic begins.