ericaceous
adjEtymology Borrowed from New Latin erīcāceus.
2
Especially, Of a plant Acid-loving, thriving in acidic conditions.
- Ericaceous plants include camellias, hollies, hydrangeas, and maples as well as members of the Ericaceae.
- Ralph E. Martin, a New Jersey engineer and gardener, concurs that coffee grounds for general garden and lawn use are too acid. He recommends small quantities for ericaceous (acid-loving) ornamentals.1975, Joan Lee Faust, Lisa Oldenburg, The New York times book of indoor & outdoor gardening questions, →ISBN:
2 more examples
- Many people long to grow some of these beautiful ericaceous (acid-loving) plants, but think they can't because they don't have the appropriate soil.1999, Steve Bradley, Alan Titchmarsh, Ground Force Weekend Workbook, →ISBN, page 103:
- Soil acidity is important if you want to grow ericaceous (acid-loving) plants such as Pieris, Camellia, or Rhododendron.2009, Chris Young, RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design, →ISBN, page 74:
3
acidic, acid-based
- Camellias thrive when fed with an ericaceous fertiliser.
- Acid-loving plants such as camellias, heathers, azaleas and rhododendrons are best planted in an ericaceous (acid) potting mix.2004, John Mason, Nursery Management, →ISBN, page 144:
2 more examples
- Most fruits like a soil that is slightly acid to neutral 6–7 pH. These moorland plants, however, like an ericaceous (acid) soil with a pH more towards 5.2009, John Harrison, The Essential Allotment Guide: How to Get the Best out of Your Plot, →ISBN:
- If your soil is alkaline, simply grow acid-lovers in containers of ericaceous (acid) potting compost.2013, Simon Akeroyd, Allotment Handbook, →ISBN:
- Synonyms
- calcifugal, calcifugous
- Related terms
- calcifuge