Soil identification with indicator plants | What do the weeds in my lawn tell me?
There are plants that cope better with soil situations and consequently colonize more frequently in the following soils. These are the so-called indicator plants:
Nitrogen-rich soil:Nettle, speedwell, sow thistle, goosefoot, goutweed, shepherd's purse, chamomile, burdock, cabbage thistle, dandelion, melilot, couch grass, dead nettle, chickweed
Soil low in nitrogen:Field foxtail, hornwort, starvation flower, dog chamomile/ odorless chamomile, vetch
Potassium-rich soil:Melde, foxtail
Soil rich in lime:Field bellflower, field hornwort, field mustard, field bindweed, stinging nettle, speedwell, sow thistle, hare's-tail clover, coltsfoot, corn poppy, clover, toadflax, dandelion, marigold, larkspur, cranesbill, deadnettle, chicory, meadow sage
Limestone soil:Dog chamomile, small sorrel, wood sorrel, horsetail, pansy
Humus-rich soil:Nettle, dandelion, chickweed
Alkaline soilfield hay, field mustard, field pansy, creeping cinquefoil, wild oatgrass, alfalfa, chicory, meadow cranesbill. cinquefoil, wild oat, alfalfa, chicory, meadow cranesbill
Acidic soil:Speedwell (Veronica), daisy, hare's-tail clover, heather, horsetail, (dog's) chamomile, wood sorrel, small meadow sorrel, holly, viol. Pansy, woolly honey grass
Nutrient-poor soil:Daisies, heather, shepherd's purse, starvation flower, small meadow sorrel, daisy, wood sorrel, pansy, white clover
Nutrient-rich soil (humus):Stinging nettle, thistle, (white) goosefoot, shepherd's purse, coltsfoot, melilot, stump-leaved dock
Wet, compacted soil, waterlogging:Field mint, field horsetail, field mint, dock knotweed, comfrey, broad-leaved plantain, cinquefoil, buttercup, coltsfoot, creeping buttercup, dandelion
Dry soil:Flowering millet, hollow tooth, white campion, sickle carrot, summer adonis, sunflower, cranesbill, plantain
Boden arm an Bodengare:feverfew, knotweed, couch grass
Soil with waterlogging:Field mint, dock knotweed, cinquefoil, coltsfoot, creeping buttercup, horsetail, meadow knotweed. buttercup, horsetail, meadow knotweed
Compacted, heavy soil (loam, clay):Field foxtail, creeping thistle, field mint, field horsetail, broad-leaved plantain, goosefoot, sow thistle, coltsfoot, camomile, knotweed, mullein, creeping buttercup, dandelion, bird's-foot-trefoil, dandelion, bird's-foot-trefoil. buttercup, dandelion, knotweed
Sandy soil:Heather, pine, corn poppy, mullein, chickweed, spurge
Neutral ground:Kamille
Alternately moist or constantly wet soil:Seggen
Moist to wet soil:Field mint, cinquefoil, grosbeak, knotweed, creeping buttercup, horsetail, marsh marigold, wood horsetail
