Calcifuge

A calcifuge is a plant that does not tolerate alkaline (basic) soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to flee from chalk'. These plants are also described as ericaceous, as the prototypical calcifuge is the genus Erica (heaths). It is not the presence of carbonate or hydroxide ions per se that these plants cannot tolerate, but the fact that under alkaline conditions, iron becomes less soluble. Consequently, calcifuges grown on alkaline soils often develop the symptoms of iron deficiency, i.e. interveinal chlorosis of new growth. There are many horticultural plants which are calcifuges, most of which require an 'ericaceous' compost with a low pH, composed principally of Sphagnum moss peat.

A plant that thrives in lime-rich soils is known as a calcicole.

Examples

Order Ericales

Ericaceae

• Andromeda polifolia
• Calluna (common heather)
• Cassiope lycopodioides
• Daboecia
• Enkianthus campanulatus
• Erica (but not E. carnea or E. erigena)
• Gaultheria mucronata
• Kalmia latifolia (calico bush)
• Pieris
• Rhododendron (many species of rhododendron and azalea)
• Vaccinium corymbosum (northern highbush blueberry)
• Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry)

Sarraceniaceae (carnivorous)

• Pitcher plants of the genera Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, and Heliamphora

Styracaceae

• Styrax wilsonii

Theaceae

• Camellia sinensis (Tea plant)

Order Caryophyllales

Droseraceae (carnivorous)

• Drosera (sundew species; but some species are calcitolerant or calciphilous)
• Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap)

Nepenthaceae (carnivorous)

• Nepenthes (pitcher plants; but some species are calcitolerant or even calciphilous)

Order Lamiales

Lentibulariaceae (carnivorous)

• Utricularia (bladderworts; but some species are calcitolerant or calciphilous)

Other orders

Asteraceae

• Arnica montana

Columelliaceae

• Desfontainia spinosa

Cornaceae

• Cornus florida (dogwood)

Elaeocarpaceae

• Crinodendron hookerianum

Fagaceae

• Quercus (Some species of oak)

Gentianaceae

• Gentiana acaulis
• Gentiana sino-ornata

Hamamelidaceae

• Corylopsis pauciflora
• Disanthus cercidifolius
• Fothergilla major
• Hamamelis vernalis (spring witch hazel)

Papaveraceae

• Meconopsis grandis (Himalayan blue poppy)

Poaceae

• Avena sativa (oat)

Proteaceae

• Embothrium coccineum
• Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Schisandraceae

• Illicium anisatum

External links

• Tyler, G. 1996. Mineral nutrient limitations of calcifuge plants in phosphate sufficient limestone soil. Annals of Botany. 77 (6) 649-656.