27 Acid-Loving Plants to Grow in Your Garden

While many plants grow in neutral soil, there are plenty of acid loving plants, including some flowering perennials, shrubs, and ground cover species, that prefer soil with a pH value of less than 6.5.

Neutral soil falls between 6.5 and 7.3. You can increase the acidity of neutral soil with some soil amendments, such as sulfur and compost. In areas with alkaline soil, growing acid-loving plants in containers is best.

Read on to browse several plants that thrive in acidic soil, from azaleas to holly bushes.

7 Ways to Make Your Soil More Acidic

Best Plants for Acidic Soil

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Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis)

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The Bleeding heart is popular for good reason. Not only is its heart-shaped bloom fabulous, but it is also one of the best perennials for shade. An added benefit is that it grows just fine in soil on the acidic side of the pH scale.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Color Varieties: Pink, white, and white, with cultivar variations
- Sun Exposure: Full shade to part shade; tolerate some sun
- Soil Needs: Fertile and well-drained
02 of 27
Camellias (Camellia)

The Camellia genus is acid-loving shrub and tree species. These plants can get up to 13 feet tall and have big, beautiful blooms that can get up to six inches wide. Camellia species are available with many flower colors, including gold, pink, red, and white. Camellia plants are a staple in the South.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7-9
- Color Varieties: Gold, pink, red, white, variegated
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, high in organic matter
03 of 27
Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)

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One of the ground covers to grow in acidic soil is Japanese pachysandra. As a deer-resistant ground cover, it is popular in the northeastern United States. Japanese pachysandra boasts wide dark green, leathery leaves and produces white flowers in spring. This plant is easy to grow, as it thrives where other plants don't and requires little care once it's established.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full shade
- Soil Needs: Soil enriched with compost
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Blueberries (Vaccinium)

Blueberries are a staple fruit for many, packed with antioxidants and flavor. There are multiple species of blueberries and many more cultivars. Most of the plants are woody perennials that grow in temperate climates. Berries are usually harvested in the summer.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2-7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
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05 of 27
Blue Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)

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Blue ageratum, often called flossflower, is an annual flower that's related to the aster. For an inexpensive, quick injection of blue into your landscape color scheme, few plants can beat it. Despite its name, blue ageratum can actually be found in varieties featuring many different colors. While a lovely addition to gardens in warmer climates, it's unlikely to thrive in cooler areas.
- USDA Growing Zones: 10 or warmer
- Color Varieties: Pink, white, purple, lavender, blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun in the north; partial shade in the south
- Soil Needs: Well-drained moist soil amended with compost
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Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

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If the ground in your region is acidic and you find yourself restricted in your perennial options, expand your horizons by considering native plants. In addition to the native ground cover, bunchberry, some acid-loving native plants in the New England region of the United States include Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), which is related to bleeding heart.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Moist soil
07 of 27
Azalea (Rhododendron)

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Azaleas are flowering shrubs that grow well in shady locations and acidic soil. Rhododendron x Gable Stewartstonian is one of the best known and most beautiful of the azaleas, but there are many varieties that feature a wide range of colors. The 'Golden Oriole' is a nice choice if you're seeking flowers in the yellow-to-orange range. Its flower buds are orange, but they open up to be golden-colored blooms.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Pink, white, red, and yellow depending on variety
- Sun Exposure: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained amended soil
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Rhododendrons

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The very first acid-loving plants that come to mind for most gardeners are the shrubs in the heath family. Rhododendrons are among the most widely-used of these in North American landscaping. They feature magnificent spring-blooming blossoms in a wide range of colors.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Pink, white, red, mauve
- Sun Exposure: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained amended soil
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09 of 27
Heath (Erica x darleyensis)

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The namesake member of the heath family is winter heath, an evergreen shrub similar in appearance to heather (Calluna spp.). Gardeners love the fact that this shrub keeps its pink blooms during the winter, even in a cold area such as New England. That is why it is a great idea for a flower bed where the goal is to have something flowering year-round.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained ground
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Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

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You may know that hydrangea flowers are blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. This phenomenon, though, does not apply to all types of hydrangeas; for example, the flower color of oakleaf hydrangea does not change based on soil pH. But this white-flowering shrub, a North-American native, performs just fine in acidic soils. Oakleaf hydrangea is especially valued for its wonderful fall foliage.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: White or red depending on variety
- Sun Exposure: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil with plenty of compost.
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Holly Plants (Ilex)

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There are many kinds of holly, most of which are shrubs. While the evergreen types such as 'Blue Princess' are best known, there are also deciduous kinds, such as winterberry. In the wild, the latter grows in the same swampy areas as does bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica); both are acid-loving plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Sun Exposure: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil (some varieties can tolerate moist soil)
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Bottlebrush Shrubs (Fothergilla gardenii)

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The name of the bottlebrush shrub describes the shape of its flower clusters, but the standout feature of this one is its fall color. As with most shrubs grown for their fall foliage, the autumn leaves of your bottlebrush shrubs will be at their most colorful if you give them full sun.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moderately moist but well-drained amended soil
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Viburnum Bushes (Viburnum)

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Viburnum shrubs boast attractive flowers, berries, and fall foliage. Doublefile viburnum is one of the best bloomers for sunny areas, but other types include Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii).
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Loam or any medium-moisture, well-drained soil
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Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

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Both evergreen and deciduous trees furnish examples of acid-loving plants and specimens tolerant of acid. Colorado blue spruce is most famous for its use as a Christmas tree. Other evergreen trees for acidic soil are the Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus).
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
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Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)

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Mountain ash is most often grown for its berries, although its flowers are moderately attractive as well. Among the true ashes (Fraxinus spp.), white ash (F. americana) is one of the better choices for fall color. Oak trees (Quercus spp.) grow well in acidic soil and provide color in late fall (through November in planting zone 5).
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Rich soil
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Magnolia Trees (Magnolia)

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Southern magnolia, common in the eastern United States, is iconic, but there are other kinds of magnolias as well. The saucer type (Magnolia soulangiana) is very popular, as is one of the favorite heralds of spring, the star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), whose furry buds resemble pussy willow. Magnolia x Jane, like star magnolia, is often grown as a shrub.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Color Varieties: White, pink, purple, yellow depending on variety
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moderately moist sand, silt, or clay soil
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Dogwood Plants (Cornus)

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Dogwoods are a diverse group of plants. The white sepals and variegated leaves of 'Wolf Eyes' (Cornus kousa) make it a bright plant. The pink dogwood trees (Cornus florida) might be even more popular. Then there are the shrub-form members of the Cornus genus. These are best known for the color of their bark and include the Red-twig dogwood (C. alba) and Yellow-twig dogwood (C. stolonifera 'Flaviramea').
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: White or pink depending on variety
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, kept evenly moist
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Gardenia (Gardenia)

Gardenia is a broad genus that includes more than 200 species of shrubs known for their fragrant flowers. There are many types of Gardenia to choose from, and while some grow to about three feet tall, others reach 49 feet. These trees love humid climates.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7-11
- Color Varieties: Gold, yellow, white
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, fertile
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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)

Nasturtiums are garden staples, proving ground cover, attracting pollinators, and generally making excellent companion plants. They are grown as annuals in pretty much all zones, though gardeners in zones 9 through 11 may find them volunteering in their garden each spring.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2-11
- Color Varieties: Orange, yellow, red, cream
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Fine in most soils, including poor soil
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Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica)

Japanese pieris, also known as Japanese andromeda and fetterbush, is a woody, evergreen shrub. New foliage on the plant emerges as a bright shade of red. These shrubs bloom each spring, offering hanging white flowers. Many cultivars of Japanese pieris are available.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, fertile, well-drained
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Peppers (Capsicum)

Peppers are fun and easy to grow, whether you like milder peppers like bell peppers or want to grow something more intense, like a ghost pepper. Give them plenty of sunlight, and they may grow fairly tall. Secure them to a stake so that summer thunderstorms don't knock them over.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-11
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining, high in organic matter
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Marigolds (Tagetes)

Marigolds are excellent flowers to plant among your other ornamental and edible plants. Their cheery flowers add visual interest, while their odor actually repels unwanted pests. Marigolds can even repel root-knot nematodes with the help of a substance produced by the plant's roots.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2-11
- Color Varieties: Orange, yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Fine with most soils
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Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomatoes are a classic garden edible. Plant them in an area where they'll get sunlight for most of the day, and don't forget to support them with a tall stake or tomato cage. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue growing until frost, while determine tomatoes will reach a specific height, fruit, and then stop growing.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, loamy
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Begonia (Begonia)

Begonia is a huge genus of tropical and subtropical plants. While the characteristics of these species differ, they tend to have interesting foliage with various textures as well as colorful flowers. Begonia plants tend to like higher humidity, and their tropical nature makes them great houseplants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 10-11
- Color Varieties: Pink, brown, yellow, green, silver, purple
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade, deep shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
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Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Potatoes are easy to grow, especially if you plant them in soil that leans acidic. Though the plants are actually perennial species, they are grown as annuals. Their lifecycle ends when the potatoes are harvested. Many cultivars of potato have been developed over time.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2-11
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, sandy
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Trillium (Trillium)

Trillium is a genus of flowering plants that grow throughout temperate zones. The widest array of Trillium can be found in Appalachia, though you can grow these plants in your yard, too. These small flowering plants grow from rhizomes below the ground and have various flower colors.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Color Varieties: White, red, purple, pink
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, loamy, well-drained
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Caladium (Caladium)

Caladium plants, also known as elephant's ear, are grown for their fun foliage, which forms unique patterns in shades of green, pink, and red. Over 1,000 Caladium cultivars exist. They make great houseplants in cooler zones, though they can be planted as perennials in hotter regions.
- USDA Growing Zones: 9-10
- Color Varieties: Green, pink, red, white
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

FAQ

What plants do not grow well in acidic soil?

There are a lot of plants that prefer alkaline soil, such as lilacs, lavender, and clematis. Edible species like asparagus, cabbage, and pole beans also prefer also grow better in soil that does not lean acidic.
What soil amendments can I add to make the soil more acidic?

Over time, compost tends to increase the acidity of soil. Additionally, you can add sulfur and iron sulfate.
What is the best fertilizer for acid-loving plants?

There are lots of fertilizers on the market for acid-loving plants. Look for "acidic" on the label. Common ingredients in these fertilizers include various sulfates.