It can be difficult to make acidic soil neutral or alkaline, so choosing plants that thrive in acidic soil can ensure you have the best garden possible. Have your soil tested prior to planting a garden in order to save time and money and avoid planting the wrong plants and having them die out.
Chapman's Azalea, or Rhododendron chapmanii, is from the Apocynaceae, or dogbane, family. It is an evergreen shrub that can reach 4-10 feet tall and the same in width. Leaves are dark green and 1-2 inches long. Flowers can be rose pink and funnel-shaped in clusters. This plant requires filtered sun, moist acidic soil and can be propagated via stem tip cuttings in the spring or seeds in the summer.
Titi, or Cyrilla racemiflora, is from the Cyrillaceae, or titi, family. It is a fragrant, drought-resistant, shrub-like tree. Generally, it is 7 to 15 feet tall but can rarely get to 30 feet. Leaves are shiny and about 1 to 3 inches long. Small flowers in white or cream will show in late spring or summer. It prefers acidic soil, full sun and can be propagated via tip cuttings, root cuttings or seed sowing.
Venus Flytrap, or Dionaea muscipula, is from the Droseraceae, or sundew, family. It is a perennial and has clam-like traps that are used to catch and eat insects. It has white blooms in May and June and requires full or partial sun and at least 80% humidity. To propagate, sow seeds, divide or take spring or summer leaf cuttings.
Parrotlily, or Alstroemeria psittacina, is from the Amaryllidaceae, or amaryllis, family. It is a perennial, drought-resistant plant that attracts hummingbirds. The plant has 8 to 12 inch stalks that grow longer as the season progresses. Red flowers cluster in the summer. Parrotlily prefers rich acidic soils in full sun. They are propagated via seed.
Witch-alder, or Fothergilla major, is from the Hamamelidaceae, or witch-hazel, family. It has fragrant flowers, nice fall colors and is good for a shady spot. This shrub gets 6 to 10 feet tall with dark green leaves 3 to 5 inches long. Flowers are white or pink spikes of 1 to 2 inches in length. It has a slight honey smell. It requires acidic moist soil, in part shade or full sun. Propagate via seeds, air-layering or softwood tip cuttings.