Plants for acid soils with bursts of yellow
Plenty of plants thrive in the lower pH of acidic or ericaceous soil, so it's possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- For some plants acidic soil is essential and these are often refered to as ericaceous plants
- Ericaceous soil can be bought for pots, for acid-loving plants on a patio
- Acid conditions are produced by the underlying rock-type which is not something which can be easily altered, so it is best to use plants that naturally prefer the right soil type
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The planting plan
This planting design provides a range of plants with splashes of yellow colour that, once established, will thrive in acidic soil and provide a variety of interest throughout the year. A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
Choosing plants for acid soil
The Epimedium and Gentiana, provide some groundcover and will help prevent erosion of bare soil. The groundcover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and suppress weed growth. Additional organic mulching can further improve soil moisture retention and weed suppression.
2 - Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ is a large spreading shrub of open habit. It has green leaves which turn red and yellow in autumn, and fragrant, bright yellow flower tassels on bare stems in late winter.
3 - Epimedium x warleyense forms a spreading evergreen mound of divided leaves, held on thin wiry stems. These often have strong red tints, especially when young. It bears sprays of coppery-red and yellow flowers in spring.
4 - Gentiana ‘Strathmore’ is a mat-forming herbaceous perennial with narrow green leaves and sky-blue funnel-shaped flowers with paler stripes, in autumn.
5 - Gaultheria mucronata ‘Bell’s Seedling’ is a small dense evergreen shrub with tiny dark leaves and clusters of small white flowers in late spring and early summer. These ripen into dark crimson berries in autumn.
6 - Corylopsis pauciflora is a deciduous shrub with green leaves tinged red when young. It has fragrant, pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers, opening before the leaves in spring.
About acidic or ericaceous soil
The challenge of growing on acidic soils
Why choose a sustainable planting combination
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