Tree pH Ranges

As with their wild counterparts, bonsai trees have a tolerance of pH within a certain range according to species. If the soil is outside of the bonsai’s pH range, the tree may suffer ill health and lack vigour. 

This is a list of tree pH ranges compiled by Marty Klajnowski of San Antonio and originally published in an ABS Newsletter a few years ago; it is fairly comprehensive and a very good indicator of the pH level for individual species.

Acacia 6.5-7.5 Apple 5.0-6.5 Arborvitae 6.0-8.0 Ash 6.0-8.0 Azalea 5.0-6.0 Barberry 6.0-8.0 Beech 6.0-7.0 Birch 5.0-6.0 Bougainvillea 4.5-5.5 Boxwood 6.5-7.5 Camellia 4.0-5.5 Cedar 6.0-7.0 Cherry 6.0-8.0 Cotoneaster 6.0-8.0 Crabapple 6.0-7.5 Cypress, bald 5.0-6.0 Deutzia 6.0-7.5 Dogwood 6.0-7.0 Douglas Fir 6.0-7.0 Eleagnus 6.0-8.0 Elder 6.0-8.0 Elm (Ulmus) 6.0-8.0 Eucalyptus 6.0-8.0 Euonymus 6.0-8.0 Euphorbia 5.5-6.5 Ficus 5.0-6.0 Ficus 5.0-6.0 Fir 5.0-6.0 Firethorn 6.0-8.0 Forsythia 6.0-8.0 Fuschia 6.0-8.0 Gardenia 5.5-6.5 Geranium 7.0-8.0 Ginkgo 6.0-8.0 Grape (Vitas) 6.0-8.0 Hawthorn 6.0-7.5 Hazelnut 6.0-7.0 Hickory 6.5-7.5 Holly (Ilex) 5.0-6.0

Ivy 7.0-8.0 Juniper 5.5-7.5 Lantana 5.5-7.0 Larch 5.5-6.5 Lemon 5.5-7.0 Lilac 6.0-8.0 Mimosa 5.0-7.0 Magnolia 5.0-6.0 Maple (Acer) 6.0-8.0 Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) 5.0-8.0 Myrtle 6.5-7.5 Oak (Quercus) 5.0-7.0 Oleander 6.0-7.5 Orange 5.0-7.0 Oxalis 6.0-8.0 Pine (Pinus) 5.0-6.0 Podocarpus 5.0-6.5 Pomegranate 5.5-6.5 Poplar 6.0-8.0 Privet (Ligustrum) 6.0-8.0 Prunus 6.0-8.0 Quince 6.0-7.5 Redbud 6.0-8.0 Rhododendron 5.0-6.0 Rose 6.0-8.0 Rosemary 5.0-6.0 Sage 6.0-8.0 Spirea 6.0-8.0 Spruce (Picea) 5.0-6.0 Sumac 6.0-8.0 Sweet Gum 6.0-7.0 Tamarix 6.0-8.0 Tuliptree 6.0-7.0 Viburnum 6.0-8.0 Willow (Salix) 6.0-8.0 Wisteria 6.0-8.0 Witch Hazel 6.0-7.0 Yew (Taxus) 5.5-7.0