Abstract
The growth of rooted cuttings of 8 members of the Ericaceae was measured in 3 soils of contrasting pH and base-status. The experiment differentiated between calcicole species (Erica erigena, E. herbacea and E. vagans), which showed healthy growth on both calcareous and acid soils, and calcifuge species (E. cinerea, E. ciliaris, E. mackaiana, E. tetralix and Calluna vulgaris), which grew well on the acid soils but showed poor growth on the calcareous soil. These results supported field observations on the distribution of these species with regard to soil type.