Choosing Acid Loving Plants: Trees and Shrubs

Reasons to grow: An unusual and hard working small tree with ornamental bark and glossy evergreen leaves. Clusters of urn shaped white flowers open during autumn at the same time as the previous season's unusual strawberry-like red fruits are ripening.

Also consider: Arbutus unedo is the larger form with a height and spread of 8m/25ft.

Reasons to grow: The attractive lance shaped mid to dark green leaves disappear under swathes of brilliant scarlet flowers in late spring and early summer.

Also consider: Embothrium Lanceolatum Group 'Norquinco' is hardier in colder areas.

Reasons to grow: Glossy, deeply lobed, mid green foliage turns purple then spectacular glowing orangey red from autumn to winter, often persisting on the branches until Christmas. The bark has an attractive cork like texture.

Also consider: Liquidambar styraciflua 'Moonbeam' is slower growing and smaller (10x6m, 33x20ft), with creamy yellow leaves turning yellow, red and purple in the autumn.

Reasons to grow: A graceful conical tree with attractive blue green needles and cylindrical cones.

Also consider: Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' is similar with blue white foliage. It is slower growing.

Reasons to grow: Another well known acid loving plant, the glossy evergreen foliage acts as a perfect foil for the glorious double, deep pink flowers which appear in late winter and early spring.

Also consider: Any of the other C. x williamsii or Camellia japonica cultivars.

Reasons to grow: Dark green foliage and contrasting spikes of urn shaped flowers which begin as a pale pink and deepen to rich pinkish red. Flowers from mid winter to mid spring. Excellent ground cover.

Also consider: Any of the other varieties of E. carnea - 'Foxhollow' has golden, bronze tipped foliage, 'Springwood White' has abundant white flowers. All varieties look good combined with dwarf conifers in a low maintenance planting scheme.

Reasons to grow: Enchantingly fragrant, shred-like yellow flowers in winter and good autumn colour provide interest and cheer in the darker months when the garden can sometimes seem a little bleak.

Also consider: The many Hamamelis x intermedia varieties: 'Arnold Promise', 'Barmstedt Gold' and 'Pallida' have flowers at the yellow end of the spectrum; 'Diane' and 'Jelena' have rich red to burnt orange flowers.

Reasons to grow: This delightful acid loving plant takes the form of a well behaved dense bushy shrub with attractive long, glossy, lance-shaped leaves. Dark red buds open to glorious 10cm/4in clusters of cup-shaped pink flowers from late spring through to mid summer.

Also consider: Kalmia latifolia 'Dollar Spot' for white flowers; Kalmia latifolia 'Bullseye' for white flowers with deep red banding.

Reasons to grow: One of the longest flowering magnolias with exotic, goblet shaped, purple red flowers from late spring through summer. As a bonus it begins to flower whilst still young. One of the best acid loving plants.

Also consider: The delightful Magnolia stellata for its delicate star shaped white blooms.

Reasons to grow: Bushy, compact habit with attractive glossy dark green foliage. Dramatic trusses of wavy edged, rich purple flowers in spring and summer.

Also consider: Rhododendron 'Christmas Cheer' for pale pink flowers from mid winter to mid spring; Rhododendron 'Praecox' for rose purple flowers from late winter to early spring; Rhododendron 'Hydon Dawn' for profuse pink flowers in May.
Caution: all parts are toxic to humans and animals.

Reasons to grow: Delightful, very fragrant funnel shaped yellow flowers in spring and good autumn colour.

Also consider: Rhododendron 'Homebush' for a smaller deciduous shrub (1.5x1.5m, 5x5ft) with dense clusters of semi-double, trumpet shaped, rose pink flowers in late spring. Attractive dark foliage with good autumn colour.
Caution: all parts are toxic to humans and animals.