Acidic soil is not the end of the world. While many plants and vegetables will struggle in acid soil that has not been amended, others will love the conditions and survive or even thrive. Success in any garden depends on working with the soil's strengths and weaknesses and choosing plants that are suited to the conditions. To help you to plan your ericaceous (acid-loving) garden, here are some plants that like to grow in acid conditions:
Trees:
Trees help to stabilise soil and provide a bountiful source of biomass for your garden. While many trees will not really thrive in acid conditions, these trees below will do well with an acidic pH.
Magnolias
Dogwood
Beech
Pin oak
Willows
Japanese Acers
Cedar
Shrubs:
It is, arguably, in the shrub layer that ericaceous gardens really come into their own. Acid gardens will bloom into life with a range of stunning acid-loving flowering shrubs with big, bold and beautiful displays. Here are some shrubs that can do well in an acid soil:
Pieris japonica
Camellias
Azaleas
Rhododendrons
Gardenias
Fothergillas
Holly
Hydrangea
Berberis
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Edible plants:
While many vegetables will not grow well in acid soil conditions, there are a number of berries that will grow very well in acid soils and which will be the perfect foundation for an edible garden in acid conditions. Acid loving berry plants include:
Bilberries/ Blaeberries
Blueberries
Lingonberry
Cranberry
Cowberry
Wintergreen
Flowers:
There are plenty of pretty flowers for acid soil gardens. Here are just some examples:
Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)
Japanese anemones
Japanese iris
Begonia
Caladium
Trillium erectum
Ceanothus
Summer Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Amelanchier
Lithodora diffusa
A number of ferns can also be grown in acid soil and will add a different kind of visual interest to a garden.
Of course, many more plants can also be grown in acid soils, especially when those soils have been amended with organic additives to make them more pH neutral. Embrace your acid soil to create a beautiful and abundant growing space. You can always add some raised beds to grow some vegetables and other crops that will not thrive in your natural soil.