GARDEN DESIGN
ACIDIC AND LOW PH
TOLERANT PLANTS .
MORE CHOICES THAN YOU MAY THINK
If the soil you have to work with is acidic , ericaceous or low pH don ’ t look at that as restricting your plant options . Far from it . All is not lost . There are many plant options to choose from that sit happily amongst Rhododendrons and Azaleas providing colour , contrast and some rather interesting and surprising choices .
Both Rhododendrons and Azaleas have a lot to offer with a myriad of flower colours , contrasting leaf colours and some deciduous Azaleas have an absolute knockout scent and stunning autumn foliage to boot .
But looking further afield there are some surprising plant options to also consider that tolerate acidic soil and low pH . Check out some options provided by Provender Nurseries highlighted below .
Tree Options . Liquidambar styraciflua are mainly grown for their stunning autumn foliage and interesting corky-like bark . Many reach huge heights and are excellent choices for public spaces as they can also tolerate pollution well .
Of particular interest are ; Liquidambar styraciflua Slender Silhouette , a recent introduction with a slim upright habit reaching up to 18m but only 2m in width . If something smaller is what is required then Liquidambar styraciflua Gum Ball may fit the bill . A dwarf Liquidambar forming a compact , rounded tree grafted onto a clear stem at a 2m height . Perfect for smaller gardens or creating a formal look .
Gleditsia is tolerant of low pH soils and is another pollution tolerant option for urban areas . Alongside the well known ‘ Sunburst ’ is a new introduction ‘ Skyline ’ that has a rounded canopy and an upright habit creating a good size crown perfect for creating shade .
Hedging Options . Ilex crenata is an excellent hedging option and is rapidly outselling Buxus as a compact , evergreen fuss free hedging plant . Available in a range of sizes and similar to Buxus in appearance , Ilex crenata is a great substitute . There are so many different options to choose from that Ilex crenata could cover an article alone !
For something with more colour and foliage appeal , Pittosporum are surprisingly tolerant of low pH soils . Pittosporum tenuifolium Elizabeth has wavy edged evergreen foliage with cream – pink leaf margins that
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