Ericaceous Shrubs
Ericaceous Shrubs
Ericaceous shrubs require an acid soil. This includes azalea, rhododendron, pieris and most of the flowering broadleaf evergreens. If the soil is not sufficiently acid the plants are unable to absorb iron. Symptoms of iron deficiency are yellow leaves with green veins. When severe, the leaves are yellow with brown margins. The symptoms can be alleviated by spraying the plant with iron chelate. Apply sulfur or aluminum sulfate to the soil to increase soil acidity. Use of iron chelate gives relatively quick but temporary relief. Acidifying the soil is the best solution. Where soils are not acid, use other plants rather than try to change the soil pH.