Plants for Sandy Soil

In their natural habitat plants that grow in sandy soils use up less nutrients from the soil and are drought resistant. There are a number of drought tolerant herbaceous and flowering plants and grasses that will tolerate hot dry conditions and free draining sandy soils. These plants can conserve moisture with tough silver foliage as well as water retaining tough fleshy leaves. Such adaptions allow the plant to tolerate hot spells as well as prolonged dry soil conditions. Many of these plants also manage to produce an impressive display of flowers during the summer months. 

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Annuals For Sandy Soil

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora), Gaillardia plants actually require excellent drainage, which makes them perfect for sandy soils.
Portulaca/Purselane (Portulaca grandiflora) This semi-succulent plant produces jewel-toned blooms on low growing foliage throughout the summer.
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) These quick growing natives of Mexico produce lots of daisy-like flowers during summer months. Zinnias will die after the first frost, but are readily self-sowing.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) The tall nodding blooms are ideal in rock and cottage gardens, rather than in formal flowerbeds. Remove some of the spent flowers to limit reseeding so the plants don't take over.
Cleome spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) Native to the tropics, cleome is an easy-care annual that's the perfect backdrop or centerpiece in a flowerbed. Cleome tolerates poor soils and freely self-seeds for the following year, making it easy to grow in sandy soil. 

Cosmos (Cosmea bipinnatus) This beautiful annual will attract birds and butterflies to your garden with its colourful, pinwheel-shaped blooms. Its feathery foliage is attractive and creates an airy appearance. Cosmos thrives in a variety of conditions, making it a sandy garden favourite. It can be a tall plant and may need staking.
Gazania These daisy-like blooms thrive in sandy soil and need full sun. The flower heads close if the Sun goes in.

Perennials For Sandy Soil

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus') These tall meadow natives produce large, daisy-like blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Purple coneflowers attract butterflies and bees, and if their cones are left on, they'll attract birds in the Autumn.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) This dense, low growing herb is evergreen and responds well to sandy soils. Both the foliage and the tiny flowers are highly aromatic and great in cooking.
Stonecrop (genus Sedum) The genus sedum includes a wide range of succulent plants that grow naturaly in sandy soil.
Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) This beauty's brightly coloured blooms resemble those of Native American blanket patterns, thus the flower's name. Not only is blanket flower bright and cheery, it is an excellent contribution to any sunny and sandy garden.
Penstemon Arching stems laden with spires of small tubular flowers that attract moths and butterflies. May be killed by severe winter frostsRugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) This fast-growing rose producing fragrant white, red or pink flowers, flourishes in sandy soil and full sun and produce bright rose hips that attract countless birds in the Autumn.

Yarrow (Achillea) This extremely tolerant plant offers lacy flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers attracting butterflies. It also makes a nice cut flower, fresh or dried. 

Hostas
Euphorbia 
Oregano 
Perennial flax (Linum narbonense)
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Shrubs For Sandy Soil

Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). This thorny shrub produces yellow flowers and red berries. A prolific self-seeder, can be invasive.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) A distinctive plant with tall, arching stems and long narrow leaves, Butterfly Bush is best known for its flowers, which attract butterflies .Seeds freely so can become invasive.
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), This upright, deciduous bush produces lots of yellow blooms in late spring. Scotch Broom is again invasive.
Lavender A great herb, this herb is said to help people to sleep and attracts many butterflies and bees.
Rosemary This is Another great herb with a Mediterranean history and hence its tolerance to sandy soils, a culinary must!!
Privets (Ligustrum)
Dogwood (Cornus) Varieties chosen for their coloured bark or floral display
Smoke tree (Cotinus)
Siberian pea shrub
Flowering quince

Ornamental vines

Trumpet vine 

Oriental and American bittersweet 

Winter creeper 

Trumpet and Hall’s Japanese honeysuckle 

Hardy grapes 

Vegetables for sandy soil 

The advantage of the soil warming up quickly in the spring allowing seedlings to get a good start but the problems of water and nutrient availability will influence what vegetables can be grown easily on sandy soil. You should have no trouble growing root vegetables but you may struggle with nutrient hungry brassicas.

Vegetables to try and grow on sandy soil.

carrots, radishes, garlic, strawberries, blueberries, , peppers, tomatoes,  beetroot, parsnips, lettuce, new potatoes, and certain bean varieties