14 Acid-Loving Plants: What to Grow in Acidic Soil

Soil pH is the measure of acidity and alkalinity in a specific plot of earth. Soil acidity is measured from 0.0 (most acidic) to 14.0 (most alkaline/basic), with 7.0 as baseline neutral, where phosphorus is the most soluble. Acidic soil contains acidic compounds, like aluminum sulfate or sulfuric acid; alkaline soil features more basic compounds, like calcium carbonate. Many factors can cause your soil conditions to be acidic or alkaline—from rainfall to fertilizers to parent material to soil texture (e.g., sandy soil vs. clay soil).

The pH unit of a plot of soil determines nutrient availability, which means that at specified pH levels, certain plants are better at taking up micronutrients. Soil pH values that fall below 7.0 are considered acidic, indicating a high concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil. Soil amendments such as compost, sphagnum moss, manure, and other organic matter can make your soil more acidic.

There are plenty of acid-loving plants you can grow, from ornamental plants to fruit-bearing ones. For a list of some acid-loving plants, see below:

1. 1. Begonias: Begonias are common plants that have colorful flowers and lush foliage. Some of these species are ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, or flower beds, while others flourish best when potted and kept indoors. Begonias are relatively easy to grow and will continue to flower all summer when properly taken care of. They mostly enjoy a soil pH between 5.2 and 6.0.
2. 2. Bleeding hearts: The bleeding heart plant type (Dicentra spectabilis or Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is a herbaceous perennial cultivar characterized by its arching stems, blue-green foliage, short bloom time, resilient dormancy period, and distinctive, heart-shaped flowers. These wildflowers can grow outside in a woodland garden as well as indoors as houseplants so long as you meet their needs for partial shade and humus-rich soil, which should maintain a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
3. 3. Blueberries: There are four types of blueberries: highbush varieties, lowbush varieties, hybrids of high and lowbush, and rabbiteye. Depending on the region, the North American growing season (including harvest) for blueberry plants runs anywhere from April to late September. Blueberries grow on bushes that thrive in extremely acidic soil with a pH anywhere between 4.2 and 5.5.
4. 4. Broadleaf evergreen shrubs: Broadleaf evergreens are shrubs or small trees with large green leaves that hold their foliage year-round, unlike deciduous trees or plants which shed their foliage in the winter. These leaves are typically flat and dark green, with strong veins running through them. Some of these plants produce berries and others bloom in flowers. Both rhododendrons and azaleas come from the genus Rhododendron, which is part of the broadleaf evergreen family. The leaves of a rhododendron plant are usually wide and leathery, while the leaves of the smaller azalea are narrower and more pointed. The flowers are often fragrant and come in a variety of colors, and will be healthiest in a soil with a pH between 5.0 and 5.5.
5. 5. Cranberries: This familiar red bog berry is a sour and bitter fruit that boasts a number of beneficial health properties. Cranberries often grow in wet areas along trailing vines or dwarf shrubs. Their preferred soil pH is between 4.0 and 5.0.
6. 6. Dogwoods: Red twig dogwood is the common name of Cornus sericea, a deciduous shrub. It can thrive in USDA hardiness zones three through eight, provided that it grows in moist soil. Gardeners prize the red twig dogwood for its vibrant winter colors—its red branches stand out in a snowscape—but it also provides beautiful year-round colors thanks to its green leaves, white flowers, and white berries. Red twig dogwoods will thrive in soil that has a pH between 5.5 and 6.6.
7. 7. Gardenias: Gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) are a type of evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and white flowers. Also known as cape jasmine, gardenias are part of the Rubiaceae family. These flowers give off a pleasant fragrant scent, making them a popular choice for houseplants or cut flowers. Gardenias thrive in a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.0.
8. 8. Hydrangeas: Also commonly called hortensia, hydrangeas make up a genus of more than 75 species of flowering shrubs. Although widely grown in the American Southeast, these plants are native to both Asia and North America. They can be either deciduous or evergreen and grow as climbing vines, trees, or––most commonly––shrubs. Blue flower hydrangeas are particular to moderately acidic soil, preferring a pH around 6.0. The more neutral or alkaline the soil, the pinker the hydrangeas will appear.
9. 9. Mountain Laurel: Mountain laurel (kalmia latifolia) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that blooms showy, trumpet-shaped red, pink, or white flowers with deep-green leaves. Mountain laurel shrubs are part of the Ericaceae family and are also known by the common names calico bush, ivy bush, and spoonwood. They are native to parts of Eastern North America like Pennsylvania and Connecticut, as well as in Louisiana, Indiana, and the Florida panhandle. Mountain laurel prefers a soil pH that is between 5 and 5.5.
10. 10. Pachysandras: Pachysandra is short, shrubby vegetation belonging to the boxwood family (buxaceae) that is most commonly used as a ground-covering plant in shady areas. It has deep green leaves and can grow small white flowers in the springtime. These drought-tolerant plants grow up to one foot tall and two feet wide. They are mostly evergreen perennials, though some leaves can be deciduous in particular hardiness zones. Pachysandras prefer a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
11. 11. Rosemary: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an herb with needle-shaped leaves that is indigenous to Asia and the Mediterranean Basin. This evergreen shrub is a member of the mint family and is classified as a perennial, meaning it continues to regrow on its own each year as long as weather conditions permit. Rosemary prefers a soil pH between 6 and 7.
12. 12. Star magnolias: A star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a large, rounded shrub or small tree with dark green leaves and fragrant flowers composed of over a dozen white, ribbon-like petals. Native to Japan, star magnolias receive their common name from the shape of their flowers and have low branches and close-set stems. Star magnolias prefer a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
13. 13. Sweet potatoes: A sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a root vegetable belonging to the morning glory family and native to tropical regions of the Americas. Its smooth, outer skin ranges in color from dusty orange-brown, to vibrant red, to light yellow-beige, while the insides range from an immediately recognizable orange flesh to purple and even pale white. Sweet potatoes enjoy a range between 5.5 and 6.5 on the soil pH scale.
14. 14. Tea plants: The common tea plant—Camellia sinensis—is a species of flowering plant that grows leaves that make tea. The tea bush is native to Asia, likely tropical southern China, though it is now cultivated all over the world, mostly in India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Kenya. The leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant produce oolong tea, black tea, green tea, and white tea, which are considered the four true teas, and flourish in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

There are many different types of acid-loving plants that all require a variety of growing conditions to flourish. However, there are a few things you can do to keep your acid-loving plants happy.

1. 1. Do your research. Look up the preferred pH range of all of your garden plants, and take the necessary steps to amend the soil or make any other necessary preparations to grow your plants of choice.
2. 2. Take regular soil samples. Soil testing is an important part of maintaining a lower pH in the soil without overdoing it. Rainfall and natural decomposition can leach magnesium and potassium from your soil, resulting in overly acidic soil. Use a test kit to check your soil every few years to ensure your garden has an optimal acidic balance.
3. 3. Watch your fertilizer use. Fertilizers high in nitrogen can cause too much of an increase in acidification, which can be harmful even to the most acid-loving plants.
4. 4. Add peat moss. If your soil isn’t acidic enough, add a layer of peat moss, pine needle mulch, or coffee grounds to help gradually lower the pH over time. These are all organic ways to heighten the acidity level of your soil.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.