岩梅科是一个小科，只有7属20种植物，主要生长在高山区和近北极地区，中国有3属，10种，分布在西部和西南部。

本科植物为多年生草本或常绿亚灌木；单叶互生或对生，无托叶；花两性，辐射对称，花瓣5；果实为蒴果。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法单独设立一个岩梅目，只包括一科。1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法将本科合并到杜鹃花目中，2003年经过修订的APG II 分类法维持上述分类没有变化。

Diapensiaceae is a small family of flowering plants, comprising 12 species in five genera. Three of the genera, Berneuxia, Galax, and Pyxidanthera, contain only a single species. The Asian species of Shortia were formerly separated as the genus Schizocodon, and some authors still recognize S. soldanelloides under that name. Another genus, Diplarche, was included in the family by some authors but is now regarded as a member of Ericaceae.