Plant pH Preferences

Flowers, Ornamental Trees, and Shrubs

Name pH Range Name pH Range Name pH Range
Abelia 6.0-8.0 Dianthus 6.0-7.5 Morning Glory 6.0-7.5
Aconitum 5.0-6.0 Dogwood 5.0-7.0 Nasturtium 5.5-7.5
Ageratum 6.0-7.5 Elaeagnus 5.0-7.5 Nicotiana 5.5-6.5
Ajuga 4.0-6.0 Erica 4.5-6.0 Pachysandra 5.0-8.0
Alyssum 6.0-7.5 Everlasting Flowers 5.0-6.0 Paeonia 6.0-7.5
Amaranthus 6.0-6.5 Firethorn 6.0-8.0 Pansy 5.5-7.0
Anemone 6.0-7.5 Forsythia 6.0-8.0 Pea (Sweet) 6.0-7.5
Armeria 6.0-7.5 Foxglove 6.0-7.5 Penstemon 5.5-7.0
Aster 5.5-7.5 Fritillaria 6.0-7.5 Periwinkle 6.0-7.5
Aubrieta 6.0-7.5 Gaillardia 6.0-7.5 Petunia 6.0-7.5
Azalea 4.5-6.0 Gazania 5.5-7.0 Pinks 6.0-7.5
Bleeding Heart 6.0-7.5 Gentiana 5.0-7.5 Poppy 6.0-7.5
Broom 5.0-6.0 Gladiolus 6.0-7.0 Portulaca 5.5-7.5
Buddleia 6.0-7.0 Gypsophila 6.0-7.5 Primrose 5.5-6.5
Calendula 5.5-7.0 Hawthorn 6.0-7.0 Privet 5.0-7.5
Candytuft 6.0-7.5 Helianthus 5.0-7.0 Prunus 6.5-7.5
Canna 6.0-8.0 Helleborus 6.0-7.5 Pyrethrum 6.0-7.5
Canterbury Bells 6.0-7.5 Holly 5.0-6.5 Rhododendron 4.5-6.0
Carnation 6.0-7.5 Hollyhock 6.0-7.5 Rose Hybrid Tea 5.5-7.0
Catalpa 6.0-8.0 Honeysuckle 6.0-7.5 Rose Hybrid Tea: Climbing 6.0-7.0
Celosia 6.0-7.0 Hyacinth 6.5-7.5 Rose Hybrid Tea: Rambling 5.5-7.0
Centaurea 5.0-6.5 Hydrangea (Blue) 4.0-5.0 Salvia 6.0-7.5
Chrysanthemum 6.0-7.0 Hydrangea (Pink) 6.0-7.0 Scabiosa 5.0-7.5
Clematis 5.5-7.0 Hydrangea (White) 6.5-8.0 Sedum 6.0-7.5
Colchicum 5.5-6.5 Hypericum 5.5-7.0 Snapdragon 5.5-7.0
Columbine 6.0-7.0 Iris 5.0-6.5 Spirea 6.0-7.5
Convolvulus 6.0-8.0 Ivy 5.0-7.5 Spruce 4.0-5.0
Coreopsis 5.0-6.0 Juniper 5.0-6.5 Stock 6.0-7.5
Cosmos 5.0-8.0 Kalmia 4.5-5.0 Sunflower 5.0-7.0
Cotoneaster 6.0-8.0 Laurel 5.0 Sweet William 6.0-7.5
Crab Apple 6.0-7.5 Lavender 6.5-7.5 Trillium 5.0-6.5
Crocus 6.0-7.5 Liatrus 5.5-7.5 Tulip 6.0-7.0
Daffodil 6.0-6.5 Lilac 6.0-7.5 Viburnum 5.0-7.5
Dahlia 6.0-7.5 Lobelia 6.0-7.5 Viola 5.5-6.5
Day Lily 6.0-8.0 Lupinus 5.5-7.0 Weigela 6.0-7.0
Delphinium 6.0-7.5 Magnolia 5.0-6.0 Zinnia 5.5-7.5
Deutzia 6.0-7.5 Marigold 5.5-7.0

 

Fruit

Name pH Range Name pH Range Name pH Range
Apple 5.0-6.5 Hop 6.0-7.5 Quince 6.0-7.5
Apricot 6.0-7.0 Melon 5.5-6.5 Raspberry 5.0-6.5
Blackberry 5.0-6.0 Mulberry 6.0-7.5 Rhubarb 5.5-7.0
Blueberry 4.5-5.5 Nectarine 6.0-7.5 Strawberry 5.0-7.5
Cherry 6.0-7.5 Peach 6.0-7.5 Watermelon 5.5-6.5
Cranberry 5.5-6.5 Pear 6.0-7.5
Grapevine 6.0-7.0 Plum 6.0-7.5

 

House and Greenhouse Plants

Name pH Range Name pH Range Name pH Range
Abutilon 5.5-6.5 Cyclamen 6.0-7.0 Kangaroo Vine 5.0-6.5
African Violet 6.0-7.0 Dieffenbachia 5.0-6.0 Lantana 5.5-7.0
Aglaonema 5.0-6.0 Dracaena 5.0-6.0 Laurus (Bay Tree) 6.0-7.5
Amaryllis 5.5-6.5 Easter Lily 6.0-7.0 Mimosa 5.0-7.0
Aphelandra 5.0-6.0 Episcia 6.0-7.0 Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant) 5.0-6.0
Araucaria 5.0-6.0 Eucalyptus 6.0-8.0 Myrtle 6.0-8.0
Asparagus Fern 6.0-8.0 Euonymus 5.5-7.0 Oleander 6.0-7.5
Aspidistra 4.0-5.5 Fern: Bird Nest 5.0-5.5 Orchid 4.5-5.5
Azalea 4.5-6.0 Fern: Boston 5.5-6.5 Oxalis 6.0-8.0
Begonia 5.5-7.0 Fern: Button 6.0-8.0 Palms 6.0-7.5
Bird of Paradise 6.0-6.5 Fern: Christmas 6.0-7.5 Peacock Plant 5.0-6.0
Bougainvillea 5.5-7.5 Fern: Maindenhair 6.0-8.0 Peperomia 5.0-6.0
Bromeliads 5.0-7.5 Fern: Rabbits Foot 6.0-7.5 Philodendron 5.0-6.0
Cacti 4.5-6.0 Fern: Spleenwort 6.0-7.5 Pilea 6.0-8.0
Calceolaria 6.0-7.0 Fig 5.0-6.0 Podocarpus 5.0-6.5
Caladium 6.0-7.5 Fittonia 5.5-6.5 Poinsettia 6.0-7.5
Calla Lily 6.0-7.0 Freesia 6.0-7.5 Prayer Plant 5.0-6.0
Camellia 4.5-5.5 Gardenia 5.0-6.0 Rubber Plant 5.0-6.0
Capsicum 5.0-6.5 Geranium 6.0-8.0 Sansevieria 4.5-7.0
Century Plant 5.0-6.5 Gloxinia 5.5-6.5 Saxifraga 6.0-8.0
Chinese Primrose 6.0-7.5 Grape Ivy 5.0-6.5 Shrimp Plant 5.5-6.5
Christmas Cactus 5.0-6.5 Gynura 5.5-6.5 Spanish Bayonet 6.0-7.5
Cineraria 5.5-7.0 Hedera (Ivy) 6.0-7.5 Spider Plant 6.0-7.5
Clivia 5.5-6.5 Hibiscus 6.0-8.0 Succulents 5.0-6.5
Coffee Plant 5.0-6.0 Hoya 5.0-6.5 Syngonium 5.0-6.5
Coleus 6.0-7.0 Ivy Tree 6.0-7.0 Umbrella Tree 5.0-7.5
Crassula 5.0-6.0 Jasminum 5.5-7.0 Venus Flytrap 4.0-5.0
Creeping Fig 5.0-6.0 Jerusalem Cherry 5.5-6.5 Weeping Fig 5.0-6.0
Croton 5.0-6.0 Jessamine 5.0-6.0 Yucca 6.0-7.5
Crown of Thorns 6.0-7.5 Kalanchoe 6.0-7.5 Zebrina 5.0-6.0

 

Vegetables and Herbs

Name pH Range Name pH Range Name pH Range
Artichoke 6.5-7.5 Fennel 5.0-6.0 Pea 6.0-7.5
Asparagus 6.0-8.0 Garlic 5.5-7.5 Pepper 5.5-7.0
Basil 5.5-6.5 Ginger 6.0-8.0 Peppermint 6.0-7.5
Bean (Runner, Broad, French) 6.0-7.5 Horseradish 6.0-7.0 Potato 4.5-6.0
Beetroot 6.0-7.5 Kale 6.0-7.5 Potato-Sweet 5.5-6.0
Broccoli 6.0-7.0 Kohlrabi 6.0-7.5 Pumpkin 5.5-7.5
Brussels Sprouts 6.0-7.5 Leek 6.0-8.0 Radish 6.0-7.0
Cabbage 6.0-7.5 Lettuce 6.0-7.0 Rosemary 5.0-6.0
Carrot 5.5-7.0 Marjoram 6.0-8.0 Sage 5.5-6.5
Cauliflower 5.5-7.5 Mint 7.0-8.0 Shallot 5.5-7.0
Celery 6.0-7.0 Mushroom 6.5-7.5 Spearmint 5.5-7.5
Chinese Cabbage 6.0-7.5 Mustard 6.0-7.5 Spinach 6.0-7.5
Chives 6.0-7.0 Olive 5.5-6.5 Thyme 5.5-7.0
Corn- Sweet 5.5-7.5 Onion 6.0-7.0 Tomato 5.5-7.5
Cress 6.0-7.0 Parsley 5.0-7.0 Turnip 5.5-7.0
Cucumber 5.5-7.5 Parsnip 5.5-7.5 Water Cress 6.0-8.0

By Dawn Pettinelli, Associate Extension Educator, PSLA

Questions? Contact:

UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Phone: 860.486.4274
Email: soiltest@uconn.edu
Website: soiltesting.cahnr.uconn.edu

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