Any plant which can germinate and grow in soils with a pH value less than 5 can be called an acid-loving plant. But some rhododendrons can even thrive in soils approaching pH 3. Thus in soils that are so acid that other plants cannot grow, they conquer a secure territory.
植物能在酸鹼值低於五的酸性土壤上發芽茁壯，都可以稱作耐酸性植物了，嗜酸的杜鵑卻可以生長在接近酸鹼度三的土地上，其他植物酸得冒不出芽，它穩穩建立地盤。