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list of economically important members of the family Ericaceae
The heath family (Ericaceae) is a diverse group of flowering plants distributed nearly worldwide. Noted for their attractive flowers and foliage, many are grown as garden ornamentals, and a number are cultivated for their edible fruits. The following is a list of some of the major plants in the family, ordered alphabetically by common name.
food crops
- huckleberry (Gaylussacia species)
- Vaccinium species
- bilberry (V. myrtillus)
- blueberry (V. angustifolium, V. ashei, and V. corymbosum)
- cranberry (V. macrocarpon and V. oxycoccos)
- lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea)
ornamentals
- Arbutus species
- doghobble (Leucothoë species)
- fetterbush (Pieris species)
- heath (Erica species)
- heather (Calluna vulgaris)
- Kalmia species
- mountain laurel (K. latifolia)
- sheep laurel (K. angustifolia)
- pipsissewa (Chimaphila species)
- rhododendron (Rhododendron species)
- azalea (various species)
- sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
- spike heath (Bruckenthalia spiculifolia)
- staggerbush (Lyonia species)
- trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens)
- Vaccinium species
- wintergreen (Gaultheria species)
wood and fibre products
This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
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