Some plants grow best in the soil with an acidic pH. Acidic soils are rare, but there are some acid loving ones such as camellia and azalea.
Most of these can tolerate a bit more than what is considered neutral or near-neutral levels though; for example magnolia will thrive if you have an around 5 PH level .
Acid loving plants are a unique group of hop lovers who can’t get enough of the low, acidic soil pH. From small flowering perennials to shrubs this type includes many vegetable and even evergreen trees!
Planting acid-loving plants in your garden is a sure way to make it more attractive. Not only does this increase biodiversity, but also helps improve the soil by making magnesium and calcium more available for plant absorption.
Acid-loving plants are those that prefer acidic soil. If a garden does not have the right kind of pH for these types, then it can be difficult to grow them successfully.
In this article we will introduce the top 15 acidic loving plants and flowers with their respective soil requirements so you know what type is best suited in your area!
But first…
What Is An Acid Loving Plant?
Acid loving plants are a great way to break up the monotony of your garden. They require acidic soil with a pH below 5 but thrive in conditions that might seem too harsh for most other plants!
Acidophilic (acid loving) species often include cedar trees, azaleas and rhododendrons; blueberry bushes like cranberries or blackberries would be another good example.
What Is Soil Acidity?
Some soils are acidic, while others can be alkaline or neutral. This is measured on the pH scale which goes from 0 to 14 for all substances in the world. The lower a substance’s number on this scale (elevated toward 7), then it will become more acidic, while above 7 would be neutral and alkaline.
But can soil get so low as to have 0 pH? No, it cannot. It only gets down to 3.5 but plants cannot survive here. The same goes if the soil comes higher at about 10, most of the plants cannot survive here either.
Key Rules To Growing Plants In Acid Soil
Acid loving plants are not all the same. Some can tolerate slightly alkaline soil, others hardly forgive you if their dirt is neutral and finally there’s a group that turns your garden acidic – actually for themselves!
Acid Loving Small Flowering Plants
Acid loving perennials like heather or lily of the valley will not complain too much if the soil is neutral, but they may reduce their bloom and be more prone to disease.
The pH level for these types plants should stay at a range between 6 – 7 on average with some variation depending upon where in this spectrum your plant prefers its environment!
Acid Loving Flowering Shrubs
Acid loving, highly-demanding shrubs are the most challenging to grow. Think about which plants I am talking about: gardenias and rhododendrons among others – you know they’re high maintenance so few people manage them successfully? And why is that?
The citrus plants can withstand a pH of 7.0 but will be harmed if the level is higher or lower than this value. They are sensitive to an alkaline balance, and as such do not grow well in these conditions with leaf discoloring being one drawback, while their buds getting blast off due to their inability for proper development!
To grow your greens, you should acidify the soil before planting. This can be done by adding sulfur or for smaller spaces using acidic fertilizers and black tea mixed with lemon and orange peels; these are often better suited to container plants if the ground is seriously alkaline.
How To Care For Acid-Loving Plants
Acid loving plants will show you that the soil’s pH is too high for them. You may notice some symptom like leaf discoloring to light green and yellow, bud blast or stunted growth as a result of an acidity imbalance in your garden’s environment.
Acid loving plants also have thin and fairly weak roots. So, they cannot dig into hard soil like other types of plant do because this type thrives only on alkaline earth.
They need very loose soil to grow their root system properly which can easily become diseased if stagnant water is nearby them or there has been heavy rain recently without enough oxygen available, so make sure there is lots of drainage available!
15 Acid-Loving Plants That Grow Well In Acidic Soils
Acid loving plants and flowers are just waiting to be discovered.
Here’s 15 of our favorite acidic soil environment friendly options!
1. Heather (Erica Spp.)
Heather is the queen of heath, which naturally has a very acidic land appearance. It will fill with its enormous blooms that last for weeks in all different colors as long as pH levels remain under 5.5.
The best way to control this plant is with a hardiness zone of USDA 4-7. These plants grow up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide depending on the variety, and will tolerate sun or partial shade in their natural environment (zone 8).
They also need well drained soil which has low nutrient levels such as sand, clay loam base at pH level 5.5.
2. Cyclamen (Cyclamen Spp.)
Cyclamens are incredibly resilient plants, able to grow in a variety of soils and conditions. They love acidic soil that’s loose with good drainage but they won’t tolerate pH above 6 or so (5-6 is ideal). You can even propagate them yourself!
The classic cyclamen is hardy to USDA Zones 4 through 8 and can grow up to 1 foot in spread. It prefers dappled shade or partial sun, but does well with some afternoon shade.
The soil need acidic (pH below 5), sandy loam based clay or even chalky alkaline.
3. Periwinkle (Vinca Minor And Vinca Major)
Periwinkle carpets are just the right shade for acidic soil. It will tolerate mildly alkaline conditions, but it really shines with fairly low pH level and you can’t beat that lavender color!
The flowers come in two sizes; smaller varieties include Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) which grows naturally across many temperate forests while larger ones like big Periwinkels make beautiful borders or beds.
Vinca minor is easy to grow, and a good plant for the beginner gardener. Vincas can be found in USDA zones 4 through 9 (although they are not as cold hardy).
This herbaceous flower requires full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil that has an ideal pH level between 5.4 – 5 .8; above 6. Yellow leaves will start appearing on plants within 2 months time if left unchecked.
4. Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria Majalis)
Acid loving lily of the valley has beautiful bell shaped flowers and lush decorative leaves that make great ground cover. You can see the pattern; small acid lovers like to grow under trees, so it’s not surprising they are found near large bodies of water too! There is a variety for every taste – Albostriata (with stripes) or long blooming Bordeaux.
Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 7. Size: Up to 1 foot tall and in spread (30 cm). Sunlight requirements; partial shade or full, but not too hot! Soil needs loam based with well-drained soil for best results that’s pH balanced between 5 – 7 maximum. Ideally prefers a slightly acidic environment ideal around 6.
5. Rhododendron And Azalea (Rhododendron Spp.)
When it comes to acid loving plants, rhododendrons and azaleas are not your average blooms. Kew Gardens sent expeditions into remote regions of Asia and the Himalayas for new species because this impressive bloomer became an all time favorite by gardeners in 19th century gardens across Europe, and America.
Rhodendrons can tolerate cold climates, even down to USDA zones 2 and 3; most will thrive in USDA 6 through 9. Azaleas are less hardy with colder temperatures usually thriving at only the lower end of this range -to about zone 7 or 8 (though some do well as high as 10).
6. Camellia (Camellia Spp.)
The camellia is a plant that everybody loves to have but nobody wants to grow. This beautiful flower, with its dark green glossy oval leaves and vibrant red blossoms can be found anywhere from the frozen tundra of Alaska all the way south into Texas!
The reason why so many people fail at growing them has nothing do with their beauty or popularity; rather it’s because these plants need acidic soil in order for nutrients like iron (which helps produce chlorophyll) as well as pH levels below 5.6.
Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit, the largest species can reach 12 feet tall (3.6 meters). Grows better with pH above 5.0 but may tolerate higher levels of 6-7 and well drained soil is necessary for good growth in sandy loam or clay/loamy sand like soils that also retain moisture well without being wet all year round.
7. Gardenia (Gardenia Spp.)
Gardenia, camellia, azalea and rhododendron are the four musketeers of a kingdom that loves acid soil. They have white flowers with double or single petals for beauty’s sake-and it just so happens these plants prefer acidic conditions too!
If you want gardenias in your green, keep it high maintenance: quality potting soils go hand-in-hand as does good husbandry (aka watering).
The hardiness of this plant ranges from USDA zones 8 to 11, with an average tolerance being around 6.5 for soil pH and 5 inches (130 mm) in height at maturity; its size also varies depending on where you live – 3 feet tall up to 6 ft wide is typical! Sunlight requirements will differ by region because full sun exposure does not always lead towards optimal growth but partial shade works well too.
8. Fothergilla (Fothergilla Spp.)
Fothergilla is a beautiful shrub with bottlebrush flowers that can be grown in soil of any acidity level. The leaves turn gold and red during fall, making it the perfect plant for display when colors are at their peak!
Fothergilla can grow up to 10 feet tall and 9 feet across (2.7 meters). The sun requirements for this plant are full sun or partial shade depending on their location in the country’s landscape. In order to thrive they need well drained loam based soil with an ideal pH range between 5 – 7.
9. Blue Hydrangea (Hydrangea Macrophylla)
Do you want to grow your blue hydrangea into a stunning plant with flowers that are deep and rich in color? Most plants will do just fine when given neutral or slightly acidic soil, but not these shade loving bushes! Acidic soils provide the best conditions for them.
The hydrangea is a stunning flower, with many varieties to choose from! It thrives in the shade or dappled sunlight. Hydrangeas prefer well- drained loam and clay soil that has been pH balanced at 5.2 -5.5, but they will grow on slightly acidic peaty sand too.
10. Oak (Quercus Spp.)
A whole environment, an oak tree is the best plant for regenerating soil and changing its texture. Some species prefer acidic soil while others have a preference of basic or alkaline conditions depending on their location in nature; however they all create beauty as well as provide nutrients to your garden!
The oak is a large, long-lived tree that can grow as high at 100 feet (30 meters) and live up to 800 years in the wild. The average size for these oaks however, are only 40 ft tall with some reaching 50ft when grown outside of hot climates where they’re more common. These trees need full sunlight exposure, as well as well drained loam, clay or sand based soil.
11. Holly (Ilex Spp.)
As the Christmas season approaches, many people are looking for ways to decorate their homes. One option is holly trees and bushes which can be found in abundance at any garden center or landscaping business near you!
These evergreen plants prefer acidic soils as well; it’s not difficult finding one that will grow fast enough without needing much maintenance from you other than trimming off dead leaves every now again.
It requires full sunlight as well as well drained and rich loam, clay or sand based soil. It is most commonly found in USDA zones 5 to 9 depending on the species.
12. Magnolia (Magnolia Spp.)
Magnolias are not only beautiful, but they also offer some shade and can be grown in a variety of soils. They’re best known for their large leaves that have an elegant or sculptural look depending on the cultivar you choose! Make sure your soil pH falls within this range: 5 – 6.
Magnolias are beautiful and elegant trees that grow to heights of up their 120 feet (40 meters) with leaves as big around as your hand. They prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade, making them great for gardens in between these two extremes! Be aware when planting magnolia seeds though because they’re not hardy enough to survive cold temperatures below about 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 Celsius.
13. Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)
Pines are a classic choice for gardeners who want to add elegance and class. Pines come in many shapes, sizes and colors but they all share some important features: acidic soil preference (to give that bright green color), low-pH needs above what most other plants need at their native ranges of pH 6 – 8% with 7 being optimal;
Sunlight requirements: full Sunshine. Soil requirements: well drained loam, clay or sand based soil. Hardiness: USDA zones 3 through 8.
14. Blueberry (Vaccinium Sect. Cyanococcus)
Blueberries love and give acidity, also in the form of vitamins! To be honest they are pretty garden plants with lovely drooping flowers. The fruit is healthy for us humans as well- don’t forget about all those antioxidants when you’re choosing which variety to buy this season or next year from your local retailer.
Hardiness: depending on the variety, highbush varieties will tolerate USDA zones 3 to 7.
Size: High bush blueberries can grow up 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall in good conditions and have small leaves compared with low-growing Raspberry bushes which typically only reach 1 foot (.3 m) or less;
Sunlight requirements vary between each plant species but all berries need full sun exposure for optimal growth ! Soil fertility is important too since sandy loam soils work best.
15. Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Cranberries are related to blueberries and like them they love acidic soil, but these little red fruits have a trick up their sleeve. This pesky vine can grow just about anywhere with the proper amount of water!
Cranberries are hardy plants with deep green leaves and white flowers, zone 4 to 7. They can grow up to 8 inches tall but their vines might extend as far at 7 feet (2 meters). Full sun is required for these plants that are found in sandy loams or loam soils of pH between 5-6.