Hummingbird House at Cedar Hill

Wild Willy
The Garden Helper
A Gardener's Forum
House Plants
Annual Plants
Perennials
Vegetables
Edible Flowers
Shrubby Plants
Vining Plants
Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes
Shade Gardens
Selecting Plants
Creating Gardens
Starting A Garden
Prepare a Site
Planting
Planting Seeds
Adjust Soil pH
Specific Conditions
Why Botanical?
Monthly Projects
Garden Glossary
Photo Galleries
Cookies!
Favorite Recipes
 
The Garden Helper, Helping gardeners grow their dreams since 1997

How to Grow and Care for Plants and Flowers

in Alkaline Soil

Soils in arid climates tend to be alkaline, with a pH factor of 7.0 or higher.
This is caused by the high percentage of lime (calcium carbonate) in soil of these regions.
The main problem associated with alkaline soils is that certain essential nutrients, particularly iron and zinc,
become unavailable to the plants.
If the soil is mildly alkaline (< ph 7.5) you have nothing to worry about, however, the higher the pH, the harder it will be for you to find appropriate plants that will survive in your garden...
Willy will Return You to the Home Page

Correcting Alkaline Soil Problems

The first thing you need to do is to have your soil tested, or test it yourself.
You can buy an inexpensive pH test kit at most nurseries. These test kits generally consist of a test tube, some testing solution and a color chart. You put a dry sample of your soil in the tube, add a few drops of test solution, shake it up and leave it for an hour or so to settle. The solution in the tube changes color according to the pH of your soil. Compare the color of the sample with the color chart to find your pH.
If you get an very high reading, you should have the soil professionally tested to get an exact pH, as well as recommendations for correcting the problems with your soil.
Growing plants in alkaline soils is primarily a case of managing and slowly correcting the soil pH on a long-term basis. Probably the most critical factor in regulating alkalinity is to reduce the soil's salinity. Chemical fertilizers contribute greatly to the salts build up, so they should always be avoided. Use well rotted compost instead.
Always watering deeply will also help to leach out the excessive salts from your soil.
If your soil needs to be less alkaline, sulfur may be used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point, mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy, or 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils. The sulfur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.
Growing plants in alkaline soils is not impossible.
You just have to be more selective in which plants you choose to grow.

Here are some of my recommended Plants for Alkaline soil.

Key to Symbols on this page
This plant requires full sun for most of the dayRequires full sun for most of the day This plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the dayRequires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day This plant prefers little or no direct sunlightLittle or no direct sunlight Some or all parts of this plant <I>may</I> be toxic Some or all parts of this plant may be toxic
Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental wateringOnce established, these plants require little or no supplemental watering These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic wateringThese plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heatNeeds regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heatKeep constantly moist
Name Botanical Height Notes USDA Zone Light, Water
Alpine Pinks Dianthus alpinus 4"-8" Cushions of neat, dark green foliage; typical "Pink" flowers in mid Summer 4-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the dayThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Bears Breeches Acanthus spinosus 4 ft. Large spined leaves 7-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Blue Flax Linum narbonense 18" Clumps of soft green foliage, long lasting funnel shaped violet flowers in the Summer 5-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora 3-4 ft. Sprawling growth of round leaves, loose heads of pink to white flowers throughout the Summer 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Clematis Clematis 4 ft. Velvet textured grey/green foliage with dense clusters of small purplish flowers in mid Summer 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Coral Bells Heuchera sanguinea 12"-18" Glossy, 3 inch, deeply lobed green to purple leaves; clusters of scarlet flowers on a stout 15" red stems in early-mid Spring 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Crown Vetch Coronilla varia 24" Sprawling leafy stems with an abundance of pink clover-like flowers throughout the Summer 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Dwarf Baby's Breath Gypsophila muralis 3" Spreading mat of greyish foliage; abundant clusters of pink or white flowers from late Spring until early Summer 5-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Foxtail Lily Eremurus robustus 24-36" Straplike green leaves with 24" spikes of pink flowers atop 8 ft. stems in late Spring 6-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Goat's Rue Galega officinalis 3-5 ft. Light green, lance shaped foliage with spikes of pink pea-like flowers in mid-Summer 5-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Gold Plate Yarrow Achillea filipendulina 4 ft. Long blooming, bright yellow 6" flower clusters 3-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day This plant requires full sun for most of the day
Heartleaf Saxifrage Bergenia cordifolia 10-15" Glossy 8 inch, heart shaped leaves, spikes of purple-pink flowers in late winter 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic wateringThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Helen's Flower Helenium autumnale 5 ft. Branching, leafy stems with yellow, orange or reddish Daisy-like flowers in the Fall 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental watering
Hens and Chicks Sempervivum tectorum 1"-4" Many varieties of succulent rosettes; unique flowers develop after the plant is a couple years old; needs excellent drainage zones vary This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental watering
Italian alkanet Anchusa italica 3-5 ft. Hairy 6" leaves, spikes of "true blue" flowers 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental watering
Japanese Wind Flower Anemone hupehensis 12" Spreading ground cover with single 2-3", white to pink flowers 6-10 This plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Jupiter's Beard Centranthus ruber 24-36" Loose clump of fleshy green leaves, dense long lasting clusters of small star shaped pink flowers Spring until Fall 5-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental wateringThese plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Ladies Fingers Anthyllis vulneraria 12-18" Silky, fern-like foliage mound, with small white or yellow blooms 7-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Leopard's Bane Doronicum pardaliances 3 ft. Large heart shaped green foliage with bright yellow Daisy-like flowers from Spring to mid-Summer 5-9 This plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Madwort Alyssum spinosum 24" Compact shrub-like growth, tiny foliage, profusion of small white to pink flowers 8-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day Once established, these plants require little or no supplemental wateringThese plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense 36" Shiny green foliage turns bronze in the Fall, 1" saucer shaped flowers in mid_Summer 5-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heatThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Milky Bellflower Campanula lactiflora 5 ft. Large clumping plant with tall spikes of bell shaped purple/blue flowers in Summer 5-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic wateringThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Monkshood Aconitum napellus 3 ft. Divided Dark green foliage, spikes of dark blue, purple or white flowers 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the dayThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heatSome or all parts of this plant <I>may</I> be toxic
Moss Campion Silene schafta 6-12" Semi-evergreen clump of hairy, tongue shaped leaves, solitary purplish/red flowers appear on wirey stems in late Summer and Fall 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Oregano Origanum amanum 6"-8" Evergreen, small heart shaped green leaves; funnel shaped pink flowers mid-summer 8-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Pasque Flower Pulsatilla vulgaris 8"-10" 3 inch, pale purple flowers are followed by ferny foliage and then by attractive silky seed heads 5-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Pincushion Flower Scabiosa caucasica 18-24" Bushy, medium leaved plant, with stalks of 3 inch flower clusters blooming from June until frost 4-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Purple Mullein Verbascum phoeniceum 2-4 ft. Dark green rosette, purple or pink flowers form on low spikes in the Summer 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea 3 ft. Grey/green foliage with spikes of small violet colored, Snapdragon-like flowers in the Summer 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Perennial Sage Salvia nemorosa v3 ft. Narrow erect plant with irregular leaves, spikes of small purple to white blooms in the Summer 5-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic wateringOnce established, these plants require little or no supplemental watering
Saxifrage Saxifraga bronchialis 8" Forms a cushion of moss-like, fine foliage; cream colored flowers, spotted with red or pink in late Spring 4-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Siberian Bugloss Brunnera macrophylla 18-24" Mounds of light green, heart shaped leaves, with clusters of tiny violet flowers on wirey stems in Spring 3-9 This plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic wateringThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Soapwort Saponaria ocymoides 4" Forms thick mat of ground covering, fine foliage; hundreds of small pink to red flowers cover the plant in early Spring 4-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Speedwell Veronica spicata 24" Spreading clump of silvery, felt-like foliage with spikes of violet blue flowers in the Summer, Hummingbird flower 6-10 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Stonecress Aethionema 'Warley Rose' 6" Low growing shrubby evergreen, with long lasting bright rose-pink flowers 6-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Whitlow grass Draba aizoides 4" Small rosette of tiny grey or green leaves; bright yellow flowers in late Spring 5-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat
Woolley Thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus 1" Spreading mat of tiny, hairy, light green foliage; covered by tiny pink flowers in mid Summer. Several aromatic Thymes are also available. 3-9 This plant requires full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants will tolerate some drought, but benefit from periodic watering
Yellow Corydalis Corydalis lutea 12" Easy growing clumps of dainty green foliage, short sprays of soft yellow flowers throughout the Summer 6-10 This plant requires shade for at least 3 hours during the hottest part of the day These plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heatThese plants needs regular weekly watering, more often in extreme heat

Clematis Care
Clematis Care