Gardeners might feel hopeless when confronted with both
shade and acidic soil conditions, but don’t despair. There are, indeed, acid-loving
shade plants that exist. The list of suitable shade plants for low pH isn’t as dull
as one might think. Plants for shade and acid soil conditions range from shrubs
and trees to ferns and other perennials.
So just what plants thrive in acidic shade conditions? Read
on to learn about shade plants for acidic soil.
About Shade Plants for Low pH Gardens
Shade
gardening is often a challenge, especially when combined with acidic soil, frequently
the result of trees producing the shade. If your soil’s pH is below 7.0, your
soil is acidic; but don’t worry, there are plenty of plants for shade and acid
conditions to choose from.
When searching for acid-loving shade plants, be sure to read the labels. Take note of such comments as “partial shade,” “filtered shade,” and “shade-loving,” as well as those that denote shade plants for a low pH, such as “acid-loving” or “prefers pH of 6.0 or below.”
Shrub Options for Plants in Acidic Shade
Some of the most stunning blooming shrubs thrive in not only
acidic soil but in filtered light as well. Examples of shrubby shade plants for
acidic soil include:
Azaleas and rhododendrons enjoy most any type of shade,
although their blooms may be minimal in full shade. Both enjoy acidic soil
though. Both deciduous and evergreen varieties are available and types that
bloom in either spring or fall.
Hydrangeas are quite amazing in their response to soil
acidity. They are deciduous
shrubs that prefer partial to light shade and are available with blooms of
the mophead
or lacecap
type. Neutral pH or alkaline
soils result in pink to purple blooms, but acidic conditions result in blue
blossoms.
Both camellias and gardenias are evergreen shrubs that are
perfect shade plants for acidic soil. Camellias bloom late in the fall to early
winter while gardenias scent is at its peak in the summer. Other shrubs that
are suitable plants for shade and acid soils are mountain
laurel and holly.
Additional Acid-Loving Shade Plants
A shade garden almost isn’t complete without the inclusion of hostas and ferns. Hostas come in a wide array of shapes and sizes with foliage from blue and yellow to green and striated. Ferns are commonly found along the forest floor and yet not all ferns enjoy the same types of conditions. Some prefer tropical conditions while still others such as Christmas fern, sword fern, lady fern, and shield fern thrive as shade plants for low pH.
Blooming plants to incorporate into a shaded, acidic area
include:
Ground covers do double duty as plants in acidic shade gardens. They fill in difficult areas of shade and acidic soil where grass fails. Some groundcover, acid-loving, shade plants include wintergreen with its brilliant red fall berries and heath, resplendent with red or white spring blooms.
Gardeners might feel hopeless when confronted with both
shade and acidic soil conditions, but don’t despair. There are, indeed, acid-loving
shade plants that exist. The list of suitable shade plants for low pH isn’t as dull
as one might think. Plants for shade and acid soil conditions range from shrubs
and trees to ferns and other perennials.
So just what plants thrive in acidic shade conditions? Read
on to learn about shade plants for acidic soil.
About Shade Plants for Low pH Gardens
Shade
gardening is often a challenge, especially when combined with acidic soil, frequently
the result of trees producing the shade. If your soil’s pH is below 7.0, your
soil is acidic; but don’t worry, there are plenty of plants for shade and acid
conditions to choose from.
When searching for acid-loving shade plants, be sure to read the labels. Take note of such comments as “partial shade,” “filtered shade,” and “shade-loving,” as well as those that denote shade plants for a low pH, such as “acid-loving” or “prefers pH of 6.0 or below.”
Shrub Options for Plants in Acidic Shade
Some of the most stunning blooming shrubs thrive in not only
acidic soil but in filtered light as well. Examples of shrubby shade plants for
acidic soil include:
Azaleas and rhododendrons enjoy most any type of shade,
although their blooms may be minimal in full shade. Both enjoy acidic soil
though. Both deciduous and evergreen varieties are available and types that
bloom in either spring or fall.
Hydrangeas are quite amazing in their response to soil
acidity. They are deciduous
shrubs that prefer partial to light shade and are available with blooms of
the mophead
or lacecap
type. Neutral pH or alkaline
soils result in pink to purple blooms, but acidic conditions result in blue
blossoms.
Both camellias and gardenias are evergreen shrubs that are
perfect shade plants for acidic soil. Camellias bloom late in the fall to early
winter while gardenias scent is at its peak in the summer. Other shrubs that
are suitable plants for shade and acid soils are mountain
laurel and holly.
Additional Acid-Loving Shade Plants
A shade garden almost isn’t complete without the inclusion of hostas and ferns. Hostas come in a wide array of shapes and sizes with foliage from blue and yellow to green and striated. Ferns are commonly found along the forest floor and yet not all ferns enjoy the same types of conditions. Some prefer tropical conditions while still others such as Christmas fern, sword fern, lady fern, and shield fern thrive as shade plants for low pH.
Blooming plants to incorporate into a shaded, acidic area
include:
Ground covers do double duty as plants in acidic shade gardens. They fill in difficult areas of shade and acidic soil where grass fails. Some groundcover, acid-loving, shade plants include wintergreen with its brilliant red fall berries and heath, resplendent with red or white spring blooms.