Family · Asterids
Ericaceae
Heaths — blueberry, rhododendron, heather
Shrubs and small trees, often of acidic soils, with mycorrhizal roots; heaths, rhododendrons and blueberries.
- Accepted species
- 4,761accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 122accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈59 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Asia-Tropicalmost native species · WGSRPD
Open Ericaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Rhododendron
- Vaccinium (blueberry, cranberry)
- Erica (heath)
- Calluna (heather)
Largest genera
Rhododendron1,178 spp.
Erica853 spp.
Vaccinium499 spp.
Gaultheria297 spp.
Styphelia190 spp.
Agapetes119 spp.
Cavendishia114 spp.
Leucopogon111 spp.
Arctostaphylos80 spp.
Dimorphanthera79 spp.
Thibaudia74 spp.
Psammisia63 spp.
Gaylussacia59 spp.
Dracophyllum57 spp.
Epacris56 spp.
Ceratostema55 spp.
Pyrola43 spp.
Disterigma41 spp.
Lyonia39 spp.
Orthaea39 spp.
Themistoclesia38 spp.
Macleania35 spp.
Agarista34 spp.
Andersonia30 spp.
Rigiolepis28 spp.
Satyria25 spp.
Sphyrospermum25 spp.
Paphia21 spp.
Acrotriche19 spp.
Cassiope19 spp.
Brachyloma17 spp.
Conostephium16 spp.
Trochocarpa16 spp.
Bejaria15 spp.
Arbutus14 spp.
Diogenesia14 spp.
Leptecophylla14 spp.
Enkianthus13 spp.
Plutarchia13 spp.
Anthopterus12 spp.
Demosthenesia12 spp.
Richea12 spp.
Gonocalyx11 spp.
Monotoca11 spp.
Comarostaphylis10 spp.
Costera10 spp.
Kalmia9 spp.
Lissanthe9 spp.
Phyllodoce9 spp.
Pieris9 spp.
Acrothamnus7 spp.
Archeria7 spp.
Ledothamnus7 spp.
Oreanthes7 spp.
Sprengelia7 spp.
Dielsiodoxa6 spp.
Lysinema6 spp.
Melichrus6 spp.
Sphenotoma6 spp.
Chimaphila5 spp.
The 62 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Asia-Tropical1,397
- Asia-Temperate1,077
- Southern America875
- Africa847
- Australasia607
- Northern America298
- Europe67
- Pacific37
- Antarctic3
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Ericaceae sits in the order Ericales.
- PrimulaceaePrimroses, cyclamen3,432
- SapotaceaeShea, sapodilla, argan1,379
- BalsaminaceaeImpatiens, touch-me-not1,192
- EbenaceaeEbony, persimmon820
- Pentaphylacaceae549
- ActinidiaceaeKiwifruit473
- PolemoniaceaePhlox, Jacob's ladder436
- SymplocaceaeSweetleaf412
- LecythidaceaeBrazil nut, cannonball tree401
- TheaceaeTea, camellia388
- StyracaceaeStorax, snowbell163
- MarcgraviaceaeShingle-plant family137
- ClethraceaeSweet pepperbush100
- SarraceniaceaeNew World pitcher plants54
- Diapensiaceae19
- FouquieriaceaeOcotillo, boojum tree11
- CyrillaceaeTiti, leatherwood11
- Tetrameristaceae4
- Sladeniaceae3
- Roridulaceae2
- Mitrastemonaceae2