Plants that Thrive in Acidic Soils

Many plants that thrive in Acidic Soils are plants that are commonly found near or under evergreen trees. Plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. 

Some gardens have acidic soil in which some plants will thrive and others struggle to survive. Acidic loving plants that are planted in an alkaline garden will show signs of distress. Their leaves or needles may turn a yellow-green hue. When this happens, the soil is too alkaline. Plants with this condition are said to be chlorotic. This is a result of the plant’s inability to obtain nutrients from the soil due to the soil high pH level. If the condition continues, plants may lose leaves, branches, and its flowers.    

The above chart by Garden Tutor indicates the soil pH level for various plants. A soil with a pH balance of 7 is neutral. Slightly acidic soils range from 5.5 to 7. Alkaline soils are above a pH of 7.

1. Dicentra hybrid or Bleeding Hearts 

Dicentra or Bleeding Hearts will thrive in acidic soil conditions. 

Pink Diamonds Dicentra hybrid has fern-leaved blue green foliage with two tone pink flowers. Grows in zones 3 to 9 in part shade and sun to full Sun. Reaches 12 to 16 inches tall with a spread of 16 to 18 inches wide. Pink Diamonds attracts bees and hummingbirds and is resistant to deer. This alpine plant needs well draining soil. 

2. Ferns 

Ferns in general, like acidic soil. 

Bright orange fronds mature to dark green color. Brilliance Autumn Fern has brilliant red sori or spores on its leaves. Grows in zones 5 to 9 in part shade to full shade. Reaches 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. Flourishes in neutral to acidic rich organic soil. Once established, Brilliance Autumn tolerates drier soils. And mulch the roots over the Winter season.

3. Lily of the Valley 

Lily of the Valley grows and prospers in acidic soils.

Convallaria Rosea Lily of the Valley has soft pink clusters of bells. Grows in zones 3 to 7 in part shade to full shade. Rosea tops out at about 7 inches high. Blooms in midSpring.    

4. Marigold 

Marigolds like acidic soil conditions. 

An annual, yellow chrysanthemum-like flowers appear all Summer long. Mission Giant Yellow Marigold grows in full sun. Reaches 24 to 34 inches tall. 

5. Bluebird Aster 

Asters in general, like acidic soil. 

Sky-blue blossoms appear from late summer to Fall. Bluebird Aster grows in zones 4 to 8 in full Sun. Reaches 36 to 48 inches tall. Provides nectar for bees and butterflies through the autumn’s end. Foliage is blue-green. Deer resistant. 

6. Westcountry Red Rum Lupine 

Lupines love acidic soil conditions.   

Blooms range from crimson to cerise to lilac on large bloom heads. Foliage is medium to dark green in color. Westcountry Red Rum Lupine grows in zones 3 to 9 in part shade to full Sun. Reaches 3 feet tall. Attracts bees and hummingbirds. Sun loving but tolerates some shade. Red Rum is drought tolerant once established and use as cut flowers. 

7. Killarney Raspberry 

Raspberry plants thrive in acidic soil.  

Killarney Raspberry grows in zones 5 to 8 in full Sun. Reaches 4 to 5 feet tall. Produces medium-size bright red berries.

8. Blueberry 

Blueberry bushes love acidic soil!

Bird friendly blooms appear in late Spring on the Sunshine Blue Blueberry bush. Grows in zones 5 to 10 in full Sun. Semi-dwarf shrub reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Provide rich, acidic, well-drained soil. 

9. Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia  

Gardenia like acidic soil conditions. 

Star-like white flowers produce a heavenly scent. A compact hardy shrub, Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is deer resistant. Grows in zones 7 to 11 in part sun to full Sun. Reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Blooms Spring and Summer.  

10. Ilex glabra or Inkberry Holly 

Ilex glabra or Inkberry Holly like soil that is acidic. 

An evergreen native, Gem Box Ilex glabra grows in zones 5 to 9 in full Sun to mostly sunny. Reaches 2 to 3 feet tall. Deer resistant shrub that maintains it’s ball-shaped dense habit to the ground.

11. Camellia  

Camellias thrive in acidic soil conditions. After every bloom season add acidic food to the Camellias. 

Sparkling white, formal, double blooms contrast well with the glossy, dark green foliage. Mid-season bloomer, mulch the roots of Nuccio’s Gem Camellia to maintain the root’s coolness. Grows in zones 8 to 10 in filtered Sun. Reaches between 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Provide organically rich, well-drained, acidic soil. 

12. Azalea 

Azaleas are acid loving shrubs. 

Mandarin Lights Hardy Azalea thrives on acid humus enriched soil just as all azaleas do. Grows in zones 3 to 7 in part sun to full Sun. Reaches 4 to 5 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet wide. Orange blooms appear mid to late Spring. 

13. Hydrangea 

Hydrangeas love acidic soils. This is especially true to maintain blue in the blossoms. One sign of high soil pH are hydrangea blooms that are pink. A quick way to remedy this is by adding acidic fertilizer to lower the pH level. 

Large mop head blooms of pink in alkaline soils and blue in acidic soil. Endless Summer Hydrangea grows in zones 3 to 9 in part shade. Reaches 3 to 5 feet tall with a 3 to 5 feet spread. Flowers are large and mophead in form. Blooms Spring through Summer. Attracts butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. Use in cut floral arrangements and hand upside down to dry out. 

14. Rhododendron 

Rhododendron shrubs do best in acidic soils. 

Plant in well draining soil that is rich with organic matter. Feed with an acidic fertilizer after Miyama Gold Prinz Rhododendron has bloomed. Grows in zones 6 to 9 in partial Sun. Reaches 5 to 7 feet tall and wide. Yellow showy flowers appear in late Spring. Keep roots cool by adding a layer of mulch.

15. Constellation Dogwood  

All Dogwood trees love acidic soils. 

Small tree with green foliage and large, white, flower-like bracts that appear in late spring to early Summer. Constellation Dogwood grows in zones 5 to 8 in partial to full Sun. Reaches 15 to 25 feet tall. White blooms late Spring to early Summer. Highly disease resistant. Deciduous tree that likes enriched, moist, well-draining, acidic soil. To maintain the root zone cool over the Summertime, add a layer of mulch.

16. Magnolia

Magnolias love soil with acid. 

Baby Grand Magnolia grows in zones 7 to 9 in full Sun. Reaches 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. White blooms appear in Spring and Summer.

17. Abies Horstmann’s Silberlocke

Abies Horstmann’s Silberlocke Evergreen Trees love acidic soils. 

 

An evergreen with gorgeous foliage and beautiful purple cones. Abies ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ grows in zones 5 to 7 in full Sun. Reaches 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 feet wide. An evergreen with dense broad needles of shiny dark green on top with glittering silver underneath. 

This is our list of the many acid loving plants for gardens with acidic soil. As you can see, there are a wide variety of plants to select from. Perfect for garden areas near evergreens, and pine trees. 

 

Interested in gardening? If you found this helpful . . .

You May Also Enjoy some of our other gardening related posts.   

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15 Best Flowering Ground Covers for Sun  
8 Most Popular Hydrangeas that Gardeners Love  

And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We always are ready to help you out. Thank you for dropping by. 

Mary