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 Plant list: Plants for acid soil
Many of our showiest garden shrubs, such as rhododendrons and camellias, need acid soil to thrive. If your garden doesn’t have it, don’t despair as you can grow these plants in containers using ericaceous compost.
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| Latin name: | | Erica |
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| Common name: | | Heather |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | White to pink to purple |
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| Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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| Height and spread: | | 15cm to 6m x 40cm to 1.5m (6in to 20ft x 15in to 4.9ft) |
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| Description: | |
Heathers come in all sizes but the low-growing spreading types are most commonly grown. They produce masses of tiny, bell-shaped flowers which appear among the needle-like leaves. Some varieties will tolerate chalky soils.
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| Latin name: | | Crinodendron |
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| Common name: | | Lantern tree |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Frost-hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | Bright red |
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| Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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| Height and spread: | | 3m x 7m (9.8ft x 23ft) |
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| Description: | |
The branches of this evergreen shrub hang with lantern-shaped flowers that contrast in spring. Protect from hard frost which can damage the flowers.
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| Latin name: | | Hamamelis |
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| Common name: | | Witch hazel |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | Yellow to red |
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| Leaf colour: | | Mid-green turning yellow in autumn |
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| Height and spread: | | 4m x 4m (13.1ft x 13.1ft) |
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| Description: | |
These handsome shrubs work hard for their place in the garden. In autumn their leaves produce colourful displays as they fall, then in winter the bare branches are covered with fragrant, spidery flowers.
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| Latin name: | | Camellia |
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| Common name: | | Camellia |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Frost-hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | White to pink to red |
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| Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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| Height and spread: | | 5m x 4m (17ft x 13.1ft) |
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| Description: | |
These popular shrubs produce a profusion of waxy flowers in spring. Protect the buds from frost and avoid an east-facing position.
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| Latin name: | | Rhododendron |
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| Common name: | | Rhododendron |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | White to red to purple |
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| Leaf colour: | | Mid-green |
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| Height and spread: | | 1.5m x 1.2m (4.9ft x 3.9ft) |
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| Description: | |
Their colourful displays surpass most other spring-flowerers. A wide range of heights and flower colours is available.
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