Definition of ericaceous in English:
ericaceous
adjective ˌɛrɪˈkeɪʃəsˌerəˈkāSHəs
Botany 1Relating to or denoting plants of the heather family (Ericaceae ).
Example sentencesExamples
- O'Connell and Johnston, for example, found that microhabitat characteristics (e.g. presence of ericaceous shrubs or open canopy) had a larger effect on pollination success in the orchid Cypripedium acaule than floral traits.
- Eradication of wild blueberries or other ericaceous plants in the vicinity of the blueberry planting is advised.
- Ledum groenlandicum, Labrador tea, is an ericaceous evergreen shrub of acidic, wet areas common to northern regions of North America.
- The forest ground vegetation is mostly dominated by ericaceous dwarf shrubs.
- Like other ericaceous plants, blueberries must be grown in acid soils so if azaleas and camellias do well in your garden, these will too.
- 1.1 (of compost) suitable for heathers and other lime-hating plants.
Example sentencesExamples
- Two years ago it was with great difficulty removed from its pot, its roots cut back and fresh ericaceous compost added.
- Try growing it in a container in an ericaceous, well-drained compost.
- Camellias like acid soil so plant in a clay pot filled with ericaceous compost.
- In early spring, apply a top dressing of ericaceous compost to give the plant a boost.
- They arrived very well packed and I've potted them up into large tubs of ericaceous compost since they won't like our local soil.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from modern Latin Ericaceae (plural), from the genus name Erica (see erica).