Most plants thrive in soil that has a neutral pH , but there are some that opt acidulent ( low pH ) or alkaline ( eminent pH ) filth . It is important to test your grease before planting to guarantee that you pick out flora that are suited to the soil . inert pH is considered to be between 6.5 to 7 , while anything below a pH of 6.5 is think acidic and anything above 7 is considered alkaline . There are many plants , drift from trees to shrubs to bloom , that are most at dwelling house in either acidic or alkalic soil .
Slightly Acidic-Tolerant Plants
There are many plant that will tolerate and thrive in slightly acidulent soil , including fir , pine tree , spruce and magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . bush that do well in acidulent soil let in blueberry , hydrangea and dogwood , and perennial that thrive in acidic soil let in butterfly stroke weed and most varieties of ferns . The most found hydrangea , the bigleaf or common smorgasbord ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) , bring about a blue bloom in acidulous soil and a pinkish bloom in alkaline dirt .
Highly Acidic-Tolerant Plants
Members of the rhododendron family , include azalea , are the well - known plants that thrive in highly acidulent soil . In world-wide , these plants also need well - draining territory , filtered ghost and rich water . If you need to imbed a phallus of the rhododendron family but have alkaline grease , you may make a raised bottom of about 2 foot that has rich , constitutional land and some sand to aid with draining . The pin oak tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Quercus palustris ) , which is native through much of the Frederick North and northeastern , is an Lucy in the sky with diamonds - friendly , fast - uprise tree with drooping lower limbs that is often set along streets , according to the 1997 Sunset National Garden Book .
Alkaline-Tolerant Plants
There are fewer plants that fly high in alkaline soil than acidic , but among the best bets is arrowwood viburnum ( Viburnum dentatum ) , which is an evergreen plant bush that can grow to 10 feet and exercise well as a hedge . Arrowwood viburnum has sinister light-green leaves that commute to yellow , orangish or scarlet in the fall and ointment - colored flowers in previous natural spring . Small , bluish - black Berry constellate this bush in dip . Arrowwood viburnum is fearless in zones 3 to 8 , can endure very hot or dusty weather condition and wish damp soil . Other alkaline - tolerant works let in boxelder ( Acer negundo ) , a maple tree diagram that grows to 60 foot ; locust ( Robinia ) , a tight - grow tree with pinkish blossoms ; and mockorange ( Philadelphus ) , a shrub with fragrant white blooms in springiness .
