The very low heritability estimates, and the lack of significant variation for seedling weight among families (Table 2), indicate that selection for
acid soil tolerance at the seedling stage would likely be unsuccessful within the two populations examined.
They are also great for using as ground cover under shrubs in gardens with
acid soil.
A ADRIENNE SAYS: Rhododendrons and azaleas need an
acid soil as a first requirement, so if you're gardening on lime you must grow them in pots of ericaceous compost or, alternatively, you could build raised beds filled with a suitable soil.
A IT sounds to me like a classic case of 'chlorosis', which is a nutrient deficiency that is suffered by ericaceous plants (those that require
acid soil) when planted on neutral or limey soil.
All camellias like
acid soil and it's best to dig in plenty of organic matter before planting.
Magnolias thrive in
acid soil in sunny, sheltered spots.
Likewise, if you plant a pink-flowering hydrangea on
acid soil, its flowers will eventually turn blue.
If you have an
acid soil, go for yellow-leaved varieties of heather, such as Gold Haze, Robert Chapman and Wickwar Flame (left) that turn a deep red in winter.
On
acid soil they have a lovely blue flower and on alkaline they have red flowers.
These showy shrubs which produce large blooms from late February until May need to be grown in
acid soil with the addition of ericaceous compost,ideally in a sheltered spot because cold winds and frost can damage their flower buds.
Use a John Innes compost and make sure that it is an ericaceous (no lime) mix for
acid soil lovers.
It prefers an
acid soil, but will survive otherwise if you plant it in a rich loam and dose it with Sequestrene.