Acid-Loving Plants

This is by no means a complete listing of the pH preferences of plants but is an attempt to start a list from various sources available to the author. Authors sometimes give different pH preferences for the same crop. Hence the reason for some plants listed under different pH preferences. Suggestions of plants to add to this list along with their pH preferences, and additional references to research should be addressed to Curtis Swift. Information on links to other web sites with such pH information would be appreciated.

pH 4.5 to 5.5
Achmines
Adiantum
African violet
Aloe
Amarylis
Aphelandra
Aurucaria - Norfolk Pine
Azalea
Begonia
Caladium
Calathea
Crossandra
Cyclamen
Dieffenbachia
Epiphyllum
Gardenia
Hydrangea
Impatiens
Maranta
Pellaea - a fern
Peperomia
Pilea
Polypodium
Primula
Rechsteineria
Saxifraga
Scindapsus
Streptocarpus
Syngonium
Zygocactus

pH 5.5 to 6.5
Anthurium
Bromeliad Cattleya
Columnea
Cymbidium
Cypripedium
Daffodil
Gladiolus
Hyacinth
Iris
Narcissus
Phalaenopsis
Platycerium
Thipsalidopsis
Tulip
Vanda

pH 4.0 to 5.0
Spruce, Black

pH 4.5 to 5
Azalea

pH 4.5 to 6
Birch, European (White)
Heather
Rhododendron

pH 5 to 6
Most coniferous species would prefer a soil of this pH
Fir, Balsam
Hemlock
Pine, Jack less tolerant of pH above 6
Pine, Loblolly
Pine, Red Pinus resinosus less tolerant of pH above 6
Spruce, White

pH 5.0 to 6.5
Beech
Oak, Pin
Tamarack

pH 6 to 7
Most Hardwoods prefer a soil of this pH
Fir, Douglas
Oak, Black
Pine, White
Spruce, White
Yew, Japanese

pH 6 to 7.5
Ash, White
Maple, Sugar
Spruce, Colorado
Sycamore

pH 6 to 8.0
Walnut, Black

pH 4.5 to 5.5
Radish
Sweet Potato

pH 4.8 to 5.5
Potato

pH 5.5 to 6.5
Endive
Parsley
Pepper
Rhubarb
Soybean

pH 5.5 to 7.0
Beans
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Celery
Cucumber
Pepper
Radish
Rhubarb
Squash
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potato
Tomato
Turnip

pH 5.5 to 7.5
Cauliflower
Onion
Tomato

pH 6.0 to 7.0
Broccoli
Celery
Lettuce
Lima Bean
Muskmellon
Parsnip
Pea
Spinach

pH 6.0 to 7.5
Beet, Table
Cabbage
Spinach

pH 6.0 to 8.0
Asparagus

Fruit Crops and their pH preferances
pH 4 to 5
Blueberry, High Bush
Cranberry, Large (4.2 to 5.0)

pH 4.5 to 5.5
Raspberry

pH 5 to 6.5
Apple

pH 5.5 to 6.5
Grape
Strawberry

pH 5.5 to 7.0
Raspberry, Red

pH 6.0 to 7.0
Apricot
Cherry, sour

pH 6.0 to 7.5
Cherry, Sweet
Crabapple
Peach

Armson, K.A. and V. Sadreika. 1974. Forest Tree Nursery Soil Management and Related Practices. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Division of Forests
Foth, H.D. 1978. Fundamentals of Soil Science. John Wiley and Sons
Thompson, H.C., and W.C. Kelly. 1957. Vegetable Crops. McGraw-Hill Book Company
Placed on the Internet 12/18/2000