Calcifuge – (n) a plant which grows only or mainly on acidic soil.
A calcifuge is a plant that does not tolerate alkaline (basic) soil. The word is derived from the Latin, meaning ‘to flee from chalk’, and these plants are also sometimes known as Lime-haters, or ericaceous plants.
Examples include: rhododendron, azalea, camellia, magnolia and erica.
Sample Plant List
Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’
Camellia – Camellia japonica ‘Lavinia Maggi’
Witch Hazel – Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Pallida’
Pieris – Pieris japonica ‘Variegata’
Mimosa – Acacia dealbata
Full-moon maple – Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’
Camellia – Camellia japonica ‘Nobilissima’
Golden saxifrage – Chrysosplenium davidianum
Lantern tree – Crinodendron hookerianum
Tufted hair grass – Deschampsia cespitosa
Tree Fern – Dicksonia squarrosa
Winter Heath – Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’
Siberian Iris – Iris sibirica ‘Ruffled Velvet’
Switch ivy – Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’
Lily – Lilium nepalense
Sweet gum – Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’
Tulip tree – Liriodendron tulipifera
Lily-turf – Liriope muscari ‘Monroe White’
Magnolia – Magnolia ‘Butterflies’
Purple Moor Grass – Molinia caerulea subsp. Arundinacea ‘Transparent’
Mondo grass – Ophiopogon japonicus
Persian Ironwood – Parrotia persica
White spruce – Picea glauca var. albertiana ‘Conica’
Lily-of-the-valley – Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’
Evergreen azalea – Rhododendron ‘Gumpo White’
Hybrid rhododendron – Rhododendron ‘Lavender Queen’
Calcicole – (n) a plant which grows only or mainly on calcareous soil.
A calcicole plant is one that thrives in soil rich in lime, for example, a chalky soil. The word is derived from the Latin ‘to dwell on chalk’ and these plants are often referred to as Lime-lovers.
