Before asking what types of plants grow in acid soil, check your soil pH. A neutral soil can be treated with acid-producing materials to lower the pH enough to satisfy acidic soil flowers. If you live in an area where the soil is alkaline, it will probably be easier to grow your acid-loving plants in containers or raised beds.
Acid Loving Plants – Shrubs
Popular acid-loving plants include:
Azaleas Rhododendrons Fothergillas Holly Gardenias
Shrub plants that need acid soil will benefit from a mulch of pine needles, peat moss, or shredded bark that will organically help keep the soil pH low.
Plants for Acidic Soil – Flowers
The ground covers wintergreen and pachysandra and all types of ferns grow well in acidic soil. Acidic soil flowers include:
Japanese iris Trillium Begonia Caladium
These acidic soil flowers grow best at a lower pH.
What Plants Grow in Acid Soil – Trees
Almost all evergreens are plants that need acid soil. Some acid-loving trees are:
Dogwood Beech Pin oak Willow oak Magnolia
No list of what type of plants grow in acid soil would be complete without the hydrangea. Bright blue flower heads cover the plant when the soil is acidic. While most acid-loving plants become chlorotic (yellow-green leaves) without a low enough pH, the hydrangea’s flowers bloom pink with no visible discoloration in the leaves, making it a good indicator of the pH in your garden soil.
