35 Acid Loving Plants (with Photos)

More acid-loving plants by barbara voss
More acid-loving plants by barbara voss

So many of TheGardenLady’s readers seemed to be interested in acid loving plants.  Here is a partial list of 35 acid loving plants:

1. Amelanchier- Juneberry

Amelanchier alnifolia by daitengu23
Amelanchier alnifolia by daitengu23

2. Andromeda- Pieris

Japanese Andromeda / Pieris japonica by carsten1968
Japanese Andromeda / Pieris japonica by carsten1968

3. Azalea

pinkish purple azalea by Wils 888
pinkish purple azalea by Wils 888

4. Balsam Fir

Balsam Fir by SaikoSakura
Balsam Fir by SaikoSakura

5. Camellia

Pink and White (Camellia japonica) by Luigi FDV
Pink and White (Camellia japonica) by Luigi FDV

6. Cedar (White)

A white cedar swamp along the Batsto River in the New Jersey... by ecokate
A white cedar swamp along the Batsto River in the New Jersey... by ecokate

7. Chionanthus- Fringe tree

Beautiful Flowering Tree by summerbloomz etc =^.^=
Beautiful Flowering Tree by summerbloomz etc =^.^=

8. Clethra- Summersweet

Summersweet - Clethra alnifolia rosea by WestLothian
Summersweet - Clethra alnifolia rosea by WestLothian

9. Cleyera

Cleyera japonica v. wallichiana by Eric in SF
Cleyera japonica v. wallichiana by Eric in SF

10. Crape myrtle

White Crepe Myrtle by scilit
White Crepe Myrtle by scilit

11. Davidia involucrata- Dove or Handkerchief Tree

Davidia by Hélène Quintaine
Davidia by Hélène Quintaine

12. Dogwood

Dogwood by Nana* (salala817)
Dogwood by Nana* (salala817)

13. Fir

Fir Buds by Clyde Barrett
Fir Buds by Clyde Barrett

14. Fothergilla

Fothergilla flower by Martin LaBar
Fothergilla flower by Martin LaBar

15. Gardenia

Soft...silky..so white, gardenia by ClaraDon
Soft...silky..so white, gardenia by ClaraDon

16. Hamamelis- witch hazel

Hamamelis mollis (Hamamelidaceae) by Tim Waters
Hamamelis mollis (Hamamelidaceae) by Tim Waters

17. Heath

Heath by Lily Zhu
Heath by Lily Zhu

18. Heather

Heather in snow by algo
Heather in snow by algo

19. Hemlock Tree

National Arboretum - Hemlock trees by jdcoffman
National Arboretum - Hemlock trees by jdcoffman

20. Hibiscus

Hibiscus! by Rana Pipiens
Hibiscus! by Rana Pipiens

21. Holly

Holly Berries, Times Three by vtpeacenik
Holly Berries, Times Three by vtpeacenik

22. Huckleberry

huckleberries by downtothewiredesigns
huckleberries by downtothewiredesigns

23. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla requires acid soil and will color according to soil pH If the pH is in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 the color will be a soft blue. With a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 or higher there will be pink flowers.)

Hydrangea macrophylla by Neal1960
Hydrangea macrophylla by Neal1960

24. Ixora

Red Ixora Burst by M.a.h.S
Red Ixora Burst by M.a.h.S

25. Leucothoe

Leucothoe fontanesiana Girards Rainbow Fetterbush by KingsbraeGarden
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Girard's Rainbow' Fetterbush by KingsbraeGarden

26. Magnolia

Magnolia soulangeana by Frengo2.0
Magnolia soulangeana by Frengo2.0

27. Mahonia

Visit Mahonia! by Michiel Thomas
Visit Mahonia! by Michiel Thomas

28. Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash in Full Glory for diskdoc by snapdragginphoto
Mountain Ash in Full Glory for diskdoc by snapdragginphoto

29. Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel flowers by Martin LaBar
Mountain laurel flowers by Martin LaBar

30. Oak

Flaming Red Oak by CaptPiper
Flaming Red Oak by CaptPiper

31. Oxydendrum arboreum- Sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreum Sorrel-tree, Sourwood by sisudave
Oxydendrum arboreum Sorrel-tree, Sourwood by sisudave

32. Pyracantha

a spasso sulla pyracantha by giulifff
a spasso sulla pyracantha by giulifff

33. Rhododendron

rhododendron by gdraskoy
rhododendron by gdraskoy

34. Spruce

Spruces and sky by Stella VM
Spruces and sky by Stella VM

35. Viburnum

Viburnum * laurel de poetas by jacilluch
Viburnum * laurel de poetas by jacilluch

Some additional acid loving landscape plants.

For some summer reading about shrubs and trees, many of them acid loving, read Jacqueline Heriteau’s book “Complete TREES, Shrubs & Hedges” or go on line to read part of the book.  See here.

Or read Michael Dirr’s book “Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia” which is one of the best books written about trees and shrubs.

15 Replies to “35 Acid Loving Plants (with Photos)”

  1. HI there,

    Im trying to find a low growing plant (20cm max height) to underplant the connifers in my garden, nothing will grow there at the moment. it looks extremely bare. Do you have any advice?

    Thanks bronwyn.

  2. Really enjoyed your website! Very informative and the pictures were beautiful. Thank you.

  3. Would like to send a photo of a plant for identification. Located at our daughter!s home in Livingston, NJ. Should know it but can’t come up with a name. Everything in the entire planting is ericaceous.

    Thanks!

  4. After years of growing hibiscus I never realized they liked acidic soil….I’m going out and digging in coffee grounds! Love the website….gorgeous pictures!

  5. Your photo #4, which is labeled balsam fir is actually a spruce. It looks like a blue spruce.

  6. Bronwyn, most varieties of sedum, a 3 to 5 inch high ground cover that bloom in shades of white, pink, red, purple, yellow, or orange, as well as one everblooming red named “Dragon’s Blood” . These are shade loving plants, low maintenance, drought tolerant, traffic resilient easily grown plants. They will also grow very well in full to partial sun…very versatile plants. They do well by themselves or mixed with other shade lovers such as Hostas, which come in so many leaf colors now and which love acidic soil. So Hosta would be happy with your conifer tree which is also acid loving.. happy gardening.

    Jay

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