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List of Plants for Acidic Soil
A partial list of trees, ornamental shrubs and fruit plants that do well in acidic soil, and a brief overview of soil pH.
Although plants are not acidic, soils can be, and many trees, ornamental shrubs and fruit plants require or grow best in acidic soils. Sometimes referred to as "sour" soils, acidic soils have a pH level of 7 or below. Areas that receive a lot of rainfall tend to have acidic soils; arid areas tend to have alkaline soils.
Soil pH affects plants' ability to take in nutrients. Plants unable to absorb nutrients through their roots seldom thrive. Determine soil's pH level with a soil test. Your area's Cooperative Extension Service can help you.
Trees
Some of the many trees that grow in acidic soils are:
Red maple (Acer rubrum), which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. It grows 40 to 60 feet in height and has a 40-foot canopy spread at maturity.
Dogwood (Cornus spp., USDA zones vary by species). White dogwood (Cornus florida, USDA zones 5 through 9) has a mature height and spread of about 25 feet.
Magnolia (Magnolia spp., USDA zones vary by species), which comes in various heights and widths. Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana, USDA zones 4 through 9) has a height of 20 to 30 feet and a spread up to 25 feet.
Crabapple (Malus spp., USDA zones 4 through 8a). Its height and spread ranges from 10 to 25 feet, depending on the cultivar.
Norway spruce (Picea abies, USDA zones 3 through 7). Up to 40 to 60 feet in height, it has a 25- to 30-foot spread.
Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens, USDA zones 2 through 7). Up to 75 feet in height, it has a 20-foot spread.
Pine (Pinus spp., USDA zones vary by species). Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, USDA zones 7 through 11) has a height of 60 feet and 40-foot spread.
Ornamental Shrubs
Some of the numerous shrubs adapted to acidic soils are:
Ruby Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense 'Ruby,' USDA zones 7 through 9). This evergreen shrub reaches a height and spread of 4 to 5 feet.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia, USDA zones 3 through 9). Growing 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, summersweet has fragrant blooms in mid- to late summer, and its leaves provide color in fall color. It is deciduous, losing its leaves for winter.
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides, USDA zones 8 through 11). This evergreen has spring to early-summer flowers with a heady fragrance. It has a height and width of 5 to 6 feet.
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla, USDA zones 6 through 9). It features flowers in summer, is deciduous and has a height and width 3 to 6 feet.
Holly (Ilex spp. and cvs., USDA zones 3 through 11, depending on the variety). This evergreen displays berries in winter.
Common juniper (Juniperus communis, USDA zones 2 through 7, depending on the cultivar.) The mature height of this evergreen's varieties ranges from 9 inches to 5 feet.
Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis, USDA zones 3 through 9). It reaches a height up to 1 1/2 feet and spreads up to 8 feet. It is an evergreen.
Azalea and rhododendron (Azalea and Rhododendron spp. and hybrids, USDA zones vary among cultivars). The azalea cultivar 'Alaska' (Azalea indica 'Alaska,' USDA zones 9 through 11) is an evergreen that grows 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. The rhododendron cultivar 'Calsap' (Rhododendron x 'Calsap,' USDA zones 4 through 8) also is an evergreen; it reaches a height of 5 feet and width of 4 feet.
Fruit Plants
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, USDA zones 5 through 8). This shrub grows 6 to 12 feet tall and spreads 8 to 12 feet.
'Thunderlake' cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon 'Thunderlake,' USDA zones 3 through 7). Growing to a height of 9 to 12 inches, this cranberry cultivar spreads 3 to 4 feet wide.
_'_Fallgold,' raspberry (Rubus idaeus _'_Fallgold,' USDA zones 5 through 8). This raspberry cultivar grows 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Raspberry is invasive in some U.S. locations; keep the plant contained or trimmed to prevent that problem.
Strawberry (Fragaria spp., USDA zones 3 through 9, depending on the cultivar). This fruit-bearing plant has a height and spread ranging from 6 inches to 1 foot.
