Definition

Relating to plants that prefer acidic soil, especially those in the heath family.

Example

Blueberries are ericaceous plants that thrive in acidic soil.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of ericaceous plants?

Yeah, they love acidic soil, right?

Exactly! I want to plant some in my garden this spring.

That sounds great! They can really brighten up the space.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ericaceous → It is derived from 'erica' (from Latin *erica*, meaning heather, a type of flowering plant) and the suffix '-aceous' (meaning of or pertaining to). The word 'ericaceous' refers to plants that belong to the family of heathers.

Memory Tip

Think of 'erica' as the heather plant, and remember that 'ericaceous' describes plants related to heathers.

Visually Confused Words