• (a.) Belonging to the Heath family, or resembling plants of that family; consisting of heats.
This refers to plants, such as heather, pieris, rhododendron, camellia and vaccinium, which all like acid soil. These plants are also known as lime-hating or calcifuge plants.Lime or chalk in the soil will often turn the leaves of ericaceous plants yellow and they may even die. They are best grown in peaty, lime-free soils. If your soil does contai...
refers to members of the heath family (Ericaceae).
Er`i·ca'ceous adjective (Botany) Belonging to the Heath family, or resembling plants of that family; consisting of heats. 
Used to describe plants that like acid soil and will not tolerate alkaline soils (containing lime or chalk). E.g Blueberries.
belonging to the Ericaceae, the heath family of plants. Cf. heath family.Used to describe plants that like acid soil and will not tolerate alkaline soils (containing lime or chalk). E.g Blueberries.