10 perennials to grow in acidic soil

Ferns, graphic and accommodating

Ah, Ferns, Queens of the forest and understorey! Few people manage to remain unmoved by their fronds. And no wonder: sometimes understated, sometimes extravagant, there are few ferns that couldn’t find a place in your garden. Most prefer shade and moisture, and acidic soil. I am particularly thinking of this magnificent fern called Blechnum spicant, the pectinate fern. A very hardy native whose fronds will complement Rodgersias, Cimicifugas or Petasites perfectly.

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Foxglove, a stately woodland plant

Mention “woodland-edge plant” and foxglove immediately springs to mind! This biennial answering to the charming name “Gant de Notre-Dame” with tall, spectacular upright flower spikes self-seeds wherever it thrives in your garden, much to our delight. Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ is actually a purple foxglove… but white. Its white flowering occurs from May to July and brightens the shadiest corners of your garden. Foxglove is a carefree plant that likes acidic soils and doesn’t mind neighbours’ roots.

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Hellebores: flowers for the gloomiest months

Hellebores or Christmas roses are unrivalled at brightening winter and early spring, especially beneath our deciduous trees. They are marvellous companions to early spring bulbs and, although they tolerate all soil pH levels, they thrive much better in acidic soil. Each hellebore is a little gem and it’s always a pleasant surprise to discover flowering of hellebores resulting from sowing. L’Oriental hellebore ‘Anemone Red’ is one of the most delightful spring-flowering varieties.

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Japanese anemones, tall-stemmed flowers

Japanese anemones, or autumn anemones, are among the hardiest and easiest perennials to grow in shade or partial shade. They flower in autumn with single or double flowers in white, pink or dark pink. Japanese anemones particularly appreciate acidic soils, in which they eventually become almost invasive. But can you blame them? An ideal plant to brighten late season in a slightly wild, naturalistic style. They sometimes take a few years to settle well but become more and more floriferous year after year. The variety ‘Rosenschale’ is one of the darkest among the pink-flowered Japanese anemones and one of the largest, but also one of the most delightful.

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Epimediums, little cushions for elves

Epimediums or “elf plants” are remarkable perennials, perfect as ground cover in cool or dry shade under trees with dense foliage. They are plants native to Asian forests, which is why they prefer acidic soil. Epimediums flower between April and June, and there are numerous species and cultivars with different flowers and foliage. So much so that one could easily start a collection if not careful! It is a ground cover that takes a few years to establish properly but once established will form magnificent tapetums in the trickiest parts of the garden. Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Akebono‘ has flowers so large one would swear a columbine has slipped among the dense foliage of an Epimedium.

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Cornus canadensis, a groundcover dogwood? Yes, it exists!

A Cornus among perennials? Goodness — you might not expect it. But actually, yes. Cornus canadensis called “Canadian dogwood” is a perennial plant and a close American cousin of a plant that grows in Scandinavian forests: Cornus suecica (unavailable in trade and protected in its natural medium!). It is also a groundcover that likes acidic, cool to damp soil. Warning: it tolerates drought poorly, so remember to water when necessary. These small plants flower in a striking way, with bracts arranged in a white cross from May through early summer. Afterwards, small red berries will replace the flowering, together with foliage in brilliant autumn colours. Although it grows fairly slowly, it is a groundcover worth trying in your garden.

Astilbes for acidic, heavy and moist soil

Few perennials manage to thrive on heavy, wet, acidic soil… except Astilbes. They produce sumptuous plumes of pink, red or white flowers between June and July at a time when spring flowering is a distant memory and summer flowering still far too modest. This flowering also emerges from shiny green foliage resembling that of a fern, which is equally ornamental. This remarkable perennial is completely at ease in shade beside a pond but can also be grown in a pot… provided it is given enough water. Astilbe japonica ‘Delft Lace’ is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful offered to date in our nursery.

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Hostas, foliage and flowers for shade

Hostas are undoubtedly stars of cool shade in the garden. Their lush green, blue, yellow or sometimes variegated foliage is sublime for much of the year (unless it has suffered slug attack…). But the very pretty and fragrant summer flowering in shades of white to mauve is often forgotten. Hostas increase in size year on year and some, after only 2 or 3 years of cultivation, become absolutely huge. The variety ‘Empress Wu’ is an excellent example, with a spread of nearly 1.3 metres. Hostas will tolerate most soils provided they are sufficiently moist but still prefer a fairly acidic soil. They are then perfect to brighten the base of Japanese bushes such as maples, and among some ferns and some Heucheras. Otherwise, Hostas also grow very well in pots. 

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Meconopsis, rare poppies for acidic soils

Succeeding with Himalayan poppies is every gardener’s dream! This almost mythical plant is considered difficult to grow. Yet if you give it what it likes: shade or partial shade, fresh but well-drained earth and acidic soil, it is no more complicated than any other perennial (Michael gives some details in this article : “How to grow the blue Himalayan poppy”). However, it does give us small scares once its flowering is over because it has the unfortunate habit of dying straight after (since it is a semelparous plant). No need to panic though: the tiny seeds scattered here and there will soon germinate the following year into a mini field of blue poppies. Himalayan poppy is well known for its magnificent blue flowering appearing between May and July but Meconopsis cambrica, Welsh poppy, which flowers yellow, is less well known. And far less fussy about soil and exposure than its blue-flowered cousin.

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Woodrushes, no-fuss forest grasses

Often likened to grasses, luzulas are nevertheless part of Juncaceae family like rushes. They are extremely hardy shade plants that grow equally well in fresh or dry soil, but preferably in slightly acidic soil. Luzulas are ideal as groundcover in very shady places. Depending on variety, leaves are green, grey or variegated but foliage is evergreen, which adds another string to its bow. The Luzula sylvatica ‘Variegata’ is a beautifully variegated variety of our native woodrush. It looks wonderful under trees alongside Heuchera or Epimedium, among which it brings a touch of verticality.

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