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Heaths (Erica)
Heaths is a genus of roughly 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. Around 690 of the species are endemic to South Africa. The remaining species are native to other parts of Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Most of the species of heaths are small shrubs from 20 to 150 cm high, though some are taller. All are evergreen, with minute, needle-like leaves. Flowers are sometimes axillary, and sometimes borne in terminal umbels or spikes, and are usually outward or downward facing. The seeds are very small. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
Key Facts About Heaths
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Attributes of Heaths
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
5 - 32 ℃
Scientific Classification of Heaths
Distribution of Heaths
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Distribution Map of Heaths
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Heaths
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Heaths encompasses a variety of species often appreciated for their evergreen foliage and colorful flowers. Basic Care Needs for heaths include well-draining, acidic soil with regular watering to maintain slight moisture, avoiding waterlogging. They thrive in full to partial sun and prefer a cool, temperate climate. Common Challenges are root rot, fungal diseases, and pests like aphids and spider mites. Seasonally, heaths may require protection from harsh winter frosts and less water during dormant periods, with increased attention to blooming cycles in spring.
Exploring the Heaths Plants
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8 most common species：
Tree heath
Tree heath is a small, erect tree with needle-like leaves. The flowers of this plant look like small bells and smell similar to honey which makes them appealing to pollinators. Native to Southern Europe, tree heath has spread to other parts of the world and is considered a weed in Australia.
Bell heather
Bell heather (Erica cinerea) is a flowering evergreen shrub that is native to western and central Europe. It grows well in relatively dry, acidic soil and is often found in moors and heathlands. Bell heather is known as one of the top nectar-producing plants in the UK and is an important plant in the production of heather honey.
Christmas heather
The pink flowers of the hairy grey heather can grow in thousands and cover the small tree in the summer. It has a large spray of pink or white-tinged bells that protrude from the brown anthers. It’s grown as a container and ornamental plant in some areas and blooms from fall to spring.
Mediterranean heath
Mediterranean heath develops into a wide bush that is covered in flowers through fall and winter. The wood of the plant is turned into tools and the roots are occasionally crafted into musical pipes. Additionally, some traditions hold that carrying mediterranean heath brings luck.
Whorl heath
The Whorled whorl heath is a strong-growing shrub that produces rose-pink flowers that are stiffly upright. It was hailed as one of the most successful species cultivated and brought back before it became extinct. The species was harvested as cut flowers for markets from the 1700s to the 1800s, but they were saved because of the botanic gardens’ conservation efforts.
Winter heath
Both the foliage and the flowers of winter heath (Erica carnea) add welcome color to a winter garden. It is suited to borders, containers, rock gardens, and banks and will bloom profusely throughout the winter. Extremely hardy, it will even bloom beneath the snow and become visible only when the snow melts.
Cornish heath
Cornish heath is an extremely decorative evergreen shrub that is widely popular in ornamental gardens. Numerous cultivars have been selected and some of them even gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Erica vagans is a low-maintenance shrub, but only if it's grown in acidic soil.
Spanish heath
Spanish heath is a small flowering shrub native to southeast Europe, often found in conifer forests. Like all Erica species, it doesn't tolerate alkaline soil and it needs acidic soil to survive. Although mostly prized as a garden plant, in some areas, such as South Australia and Tasmania, it's declared a significant environmental weed.
All Species of Heaths
Tree heath
Tree heath
Tree heath is a small, erect tree with needle-like leaves. The flowers of this plant look like small bells and smell similar to honey which makes them appealing to pollinators. Native to Southern Europe, tree heath has spread to other parts of the world and is considered a weed in Australia.
Bell heather
Bell heather
Bell heather (Erica cinerea) is a flowering evergreen shrub that is native to western and central Europe. It grows well in relatively dry, acidic soil and is often found in moors and heathlands. Bell heather is known as one of the top nectar-producing plants in the UK and is an important plant in the production of heather honey.
Christmas heather
Christmas heather
The pink flowers of the hairy grey heather can grow in thousands and cover the small tree in the summer. It has a large spray of pink or white-tinged bells that protrude from the brown anthers. It’s grown as a container and ornamental plant in some areas and blooms from fall to spring.
Mediterranean heath
Mediterranean heath
Mediterranean heath develops into a wide bush that is covered in flowers through fall and winter. The wood of the plant is turned into tools and the roots are occasionally crafted into musical pipes. Additionally, some traditions hold that carrying mediterranean heath brings luck.
Whorl heath
Whorl heath
The Whorled whorl heath is a strong-growing shrub that produces rose-pink flowers that are stiffly upright. It was hailed as one of the most successful species cultivated and brought back before it became extinct. The species was harvested as cut flowers for markets from the 1700s to the 1800s, but they were saved because of the botanic gardens’ conservation efforts.
Winter heath
Winter heath
Both the foliage and the flowers of winter heath (Erica carnea) add welcome color to a winter garden. It is suited to borders, containers, rock gardens, and banks and will bloom profusely throughout the winter. Extremely hardy, it will even bloom beneath the snow and become visible only when the snow melts.
Cornish heath
Cornish heath
Cornish heath is an extremely decorative evergreen shrub that is widely popular in ornamental gardens. Numerous cultivars have been selected and some of them even gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Erica vagans is a low-maintenance shrub, but only if it's grown in acidic soil.
Spanish heath
Spanish heath
Spanish heath is a small flowering shrub native to southeast Europe, often found in conifer forests. Like all Erica species, it doesn't tolerate alkaline soil and it needs acidic soil to survive. Although mostly prized as a garden plant, in some areas, such as South Australia and Tasmania, it's declared a significant environmental weed.
Colour-changing heath
Colour-changing heath
Colour-changing heath is a species of shrub that can be distinguished by its simple, spine-shaped leaves and its downward-facing tubular flowers. Additionally, this plant is known to be an effective attractor of honey bees and sunbirds.
Crossleaf heath
Crossleaf heath
The Erica tetralix or the crossleaf heath is native to Western Europe and some areas in Southern Europe. It is cultivated as a garden plant because of its beautiful purple flowers and has been naturalized in North America.
Besom heath
Besom heath
Besom heath is a shrub that grows naturally in slopes and ravines and is a popular ornamental, frequently grown in hedges and banks and used to restore landscapes. It is similar in appearance to the Berry heath (Erica baccans) and Tree heath (Erica arborea) species, but all three species differ in their native regions.
Dorset heath
Dorset heath
Dorset heath can be found growing in southern England in bogs and heaths. Some of the plant’s range falls within the protected Poole Basin area where it is famous for its large, balloon-shaped flowers.
Mackay's heath 'Maura'
Mackay's heath 'Maura'
The mackay's heath 'Maura' has a brighter coloring, different foliage, and grows differently from typical heathers. The Maura cultivar is a brighter pink with foliage that is a more gray-green. It also grows erect.
Heath
Heath
Heath is a unique and fascinating plant. Its delicate flowers bloom in various vibrant colors, attracting a wide range of insects and birds. With its enchanting appearance, it is often used in gardens to add a touch of elegance and charm. Interestingly, some cultures believe that heath brings luck and prosperity. Furthermore, this plant has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Heath truly stands out among other plants with its captivating beauty and remarkable healing properties.
Erica subdivaricata
Erica subdivaricata
Erica subdivaricata is a blooming evergreen shrub endemic to South Africa with bell-shaped, open-mouthed flowers that look like cups. These plants are prevalent on flats and slopes, especially in damp and shady spots. Bees and other insects are drawn to its honey-scented blossoms.
Cornish heath 'Valerie Proudley'
Cornish heath 'Valerie Proudley'
Cornish heath 'Valerie Proudley' is a cultivar from the Health family bred for its hardiness and unique yellow foliage. The foliage turns from bright to golden yellow with age, and its ability to grow in harsher conditions makes it a favorite with gardeners. The Royal Horticultural Society awarded Valerie Proudley the Garden of Merit seal for the cultivar's consistent performance.
Erica × darleyensis 'Ghost Hills'
Erica × darleyensis 'Ghost Hills'
Known as a hardy ground cover, the erica × darleyensis 'Ghost Hills' will choke out garden weeds. A seedling of the Darley Dale, J. H. Brummage named the Erica × darleyensis 'Ghost Hills' after Ghost Hill, a site near his nursery. A recipient of the Award of Garden Merit, this cultivar is easy to grow, disease and pest-free, and will adapt to slopes, gardens, or containers while still attracting bees.
Blackcrown Heath
Blackcrown Heath
Known as blackcrown Heath, this plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. It's also a popular plant for gardens due to its attractive flowers and the fact that it can thrive in poor soil conditions.
Erica × darleyensis 'Darley Dale'
Erica × darleyensis 'Darley Dale'
Erica × darleyensis 'Darley Dale' was named for the place where it was cultivated in 1900: Darley Dale, in Derbyshire, England. This heritage cultivar is a hybrid of E. carnea and E. erigena. It is notable for its long blooming season (fall to mid-spring), during which it produces a large number of flowers. Gardeners love erica × darleyensis 'Darley Dale' for its long blooming season, tolerance of both the heat and cold, its ability to suppress weeds, vigorous growth, and that it requires little maintenance.
Spanish heath 'Riverslea'
Spanish heath 'Riverslea'
The spanish heath 'Riverslea' has double pink flowers which mark its difference from its presumed parent, the Erica lustitanica, which has single white flowers when in bloom. Named for Riverslea Nursery in England where it was first found, this is an easy plant to cultivate with minimal on-going care required.
Heaths 'P.D. Williams'
Heaths 'P.D. Williams'
Heaths 'P.D. Williams' is a rose-pink heath cultivar of the hybrid Erica × williamsii, which is a cross between Erica tetralix and Erica vagans. Out of all the cultivars of this hybrid, heaths 'P.D. Williams' has a unique combination of lilac flowers and medium green foliage. It is named after P.D. Williams, who discovered the variety.
Winter heath 'Challenger'
Winter heath 'Challenger'
Winter heath 'Challenger' boasts dark green foliage and stunning pinkish-red blossoms that brighten any garden from winter to spring. Cultivated from a heather ancestor, its flowers and growth pattern (mat-forming) make it a great choice among gardeners. It won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Bell heather 'Pentreath'
Bell heather 'Pentreath'
Bell heather 'Pentreath' is an evergreen shrub that blooms with small deep purple-crimson flowers from late summer to late fall. The foliage is needle-like leaves that form whorls and are dark green in color. Bell heather 'Pentreath' is a cultivar of Bell heather. Gardeners favor it for its tolerance to deer, rabbits, pollution, salty coastal conditions, and wind.
Winter heath 'Ice Princess'
Winter heath 'Ice Princess'
Winter heath 'Ice Princess' is an evergreen dwarf shrub with a spreading habit. It offers urn-shaped pure white flowers atop bright green foliage. It is a cultivar of Erica carnea and named for its white-colored flowers. The plant holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and is ideal for rock gardens, slopes, and containers.
Bell heather 'Golden Hue'
Bell heather 'Golden Hue'
Bell heather 'Golden Hue''s yellow-and-orange foliage in the cold months and bright-purple flowers in the summer set this cultivar apart. Discovered as a sport of a wild plant, this variant was aptly named for its wintertime hues of bright gold. Bell heather 'Golden Hue' is prized for its year-round ornamental value, compact size, and ease of care.
Irish heath 'Brian Proudley'
Irish heath 'Brian Proudley'
Irish heath 'Brian Proudley' is one of the few Irish heath cultivars with white flowers, as pink flowers are usually the norm for the parent plant. It may grow slightly larger than the parent, as well. This cultivar blooms much later than most varieties, starting in spring right when other Irish heaths end their blooming season. It was named after Brian Proudley, an author of several gardening and horticultural books.
Tree heath 'Estrella Gold'
Tree heath 'Estrella Gold'
Aptly named, tree heath 'Estrella Gold' has bright yellow gold leaves that mature into light spring green. It also has eye-catching white flowers in the late spring that have a fragrant honey smell.
Winter heath 'Pink Spangles'
Winter heath 'Pink Spangles'
Among the members of the Award of Garden Merit winners, winter heath 'Pink Spangles' displays year-round beauty with its evergreen leaves and winter-to-spring pink blossoms. A cultivated hybrid of other winter heaths, this cultivar was named quite literally for its prolific pink spangles. Winter heath 'Pink Spangles' won its fame with its manageable size, delightful colors, and extreme ease of care.
Winter heath 'Sunshine Rambler'
Winter heath 'Sunshine Rambler'
Winter heath 'Sunshine Rambler' differs from its parent plant, the original winter heath (Erica carnea), in its foliage which shows up yellowish and gains a reddish tinge in winter. First introduced by G. B. Rawinsky, this Erica cultivar's name honors its foliage and growth habit as it spreads across the floor as it grows. Gardeners love winter heath 'Sunshine Rambler''s bright blooms.
Erica sparsa
Erica sparsa
Erica sparsa is a striking evergreen shrub with bell-shaped pink flowers. This South African native plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in well-drained soils. Erica sparsa is a popular garden plant and attracts bees and butterflies with its nectar-rich blooms.
Erica × darleyensis 'White Perfection'
Erica × darleyensis 'White Perfection'
Erica × darleyensis 'White Perfection' is a white-flowered heather that is incredibly hardy and tolerates both the heat and the cold. It is a cultivar of Erica × darleyensis, which is a hybrid of Erica carnea and Erica erigena that typically has pink flowers. The name refers to its perfectly white blooms.
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey'
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey'
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey' is a variety of the hybrid Erica × darleyensis, which is the result of a cross between Erica carnea and Erica erigena. While the hybrid parent usually has white or pink blooms, the flowers of erica × darleyensis 'Furzey' are lilac. It is a dwarf variety of this hybrid, reaching only 40 cm instead of 60 cm. This variety is named after the Furzey Gardens in Lyndhurst.
Heaths 'Dawn'
Heaths 'Dawn'
Heaths 'Dawn' was discovered in Dorset England by DF Maxwell, who named it after the niece of H.E. Beale. The blushing pink-white flowers of this hybrid are lighter colored than most Heather flowers. This plant is popular with gardeners because its evergreen leaves offer year-round color, and its flowers' summer and autumn color.
Irish heath 'W.T. Rackliff'
Irish heath 'W.T. Rackliff'
Irish heath 'W.T. Rackliff' is one of the few Irish heath cultivars that have white flowers, as pink flowers are usually the norm for the parent plant and its varieties. This cultivar blooms earlier than most varieties, starting in early or midwinter and ending in spring. Gardeners love its rich green foliage and hardiness.
Erica × darleyensis 'Kramer's Rote'
Erica × darleyensis 'Kramer's Rote'
The erica × darleyensis 'Kramer's Rote', though compact, has a beautiful habit topped with cute, bell-shaped magenta flowers with a dark purple nib. With a deeper greenish-bronze coloring to the foliage, this shrub created from Erica erigena 'Brightness' and Erica carnea 'Myretoun Ruby' earned its name from the cultivar creator Kurt Kramer. Its vibrant habit earned it the Award of Garden Merit trophy.
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter'
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter'
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter' is a heather that stands out among its species for its small size and its brilliant pink flowers that bloom in late winter and early spring, adding early color to gardens. This hybrid is named after the famous major league baseball star J. W. Porter (1933–2020).
Erica × darleyensis 'Arthur Johnson'
Erica × darleyensis 'Arthur Johnson'
Erica × darleyensis 'Arthur Johnson' is a dwarf heather hybrid that grows to just 60 cm, shorter than the 1.5 m typical of heathers. This plant provides garden interest with a plentiful bloom of deep pink flowers in winter and spring. This plant is named after schoolmaster, Arthur T. Johnson, who discovered it in his own garden in Wales.
Erica × darleyensis
Erica × darleyensis
Erica × darleyensis is an evergreen shrub known for its resilience and adaptability to various climates. Its bushy growth, reaching up to a meter tall, is adorned with needle-like leaves that provide year-round greenery. From winter to spring, erica × darleyensis graces gardens with copious bell-shaped pink or white flowers, attracting pollinators even in cold weather. These hearty blooms often provide vibrant contrast against the backdrop of snow-covered grounds.
Winter heath 'Golden Starlet'
Winter heath 'Golden Starlet'
Winter heath 'Golden Starlet' is a flowering heather that produces lovely pure white flowers throughout the winter months. It is named for its needle-like leaves which are bright green in the early season but turn a bright yellow-gold in summer. The parent plant doesn't experience this degree of color change, and its flowers are typically red-colored.
Winter heath 'Myretoun Ruby'
Winter heath 'Myretoun Ruby'
Winter heath 'Myretoun Ruby' is an evergreen shrub with a prostrate habit. It offers dark green foliage and racemes of magenta to deep rose-pink flowers in winter and spring. It is a cultivar of Erica carnea and is named after its dark ruby flowers and for Myreton Castle in Wigton, Scotland. It's ideal for coastal and cottage gardens and looks stunning in containers.
Winter heath 'Adrienne Duncan'
Winter heath 'Adrienne Duncan'
Winter heath 'Adrienne Duncan' is bred from the heath plant and named after Lady Adrienne Duncan of Jordanstone House, Scotland. It is popular as an ornamental plant for its long growing season and features red flowers in winter and spring with dark purple and green foliage. It won an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Cornish heath 'Mrs D.F. Maxweil'
Cornish heath 'Mrs D.F. Maxweil'
Cornish heath 'Mrs D.F. Maxweil' sports deep, pink-colored blooms which are much more vibrant than the parent plant's pale pink blossoms. It's a cultivar of the Cornish heath. Cornish heath 'Mrs D.F. Maxweil' was originally found by Mrs. Maxwell on her honeymoon in Cornwall, England, which is why this plant was given its cultivar name.
Winter heath 'Springwood White'
Winter heath 'Springwood White'
Winner of the Award of Garden Merit, winter heath 'Springwood White' is known for its abundance of red-tipped white flowers and evergreen foliage. Cultivated as a hybrid of other winter heath varieties, this cultivar was named for its lovely white blooms and springtime beauty. Winter heath 'Springwood White' won its prestige for its prolific and long-lasting growth, unique coloration, and extreme ease of growth.
Tree heath 'Albert's Gold'
Tree heath 'Albert's Gold'
This cultivar of the Tree heath more a mid-sized shrub than an evergreen. Its foliage is a bright gold and yellow mixture with blooms of aromatic white flowers. The tree heath 'Albert's Gold' is a popular cultivar for its color and the appeal of those white flowers that cover the plant when it blooms.
Winter heath 'Ann Sparkes'
Winter heath 'Ann Sparkes'
Winter heath 'Ann Sparkes' is an old Winter heath hybrid that has standout orange foliage in contrast to the parent plant's green needles. In addition to these striking leaves, this is a valued ornamental plant for its bright pink flowers. Winter heath 'Ann Sparkes' was developed in 1955 and named for the sister-in-law of the propagator, J. W. Sparks.
Winter heath 'Alba Minor'
Winter heath 'Alba Minor'
Winter heath 'Alba Minor' is an evergreen shrub with a prostrate habit. It forms a dense mat of bright green foliage and offers white flowers in early summer through fall. This is a cultivar of Erica carnea, also known as winter heath. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and is perfect to plant as a ground cover on banks and slopes. 'Alba minor' effectively translates to "white and small."
Winter heath 'Whitehall'
Winter heath 'Whitehall'
Winter heath 'Whitehall' is a winter-flowering E. carnea cultivar. The urn-shaped, white flowers appear in mass in late winter, surrounded by vividly green foliage. It can be planted as massed groundcover or as container plants. Winter heath 'Whitehall' has an upright, compact, and bushy growing habit. After flowering, it should be trimmed to encourage the bushy growth.
Bell heather 'Cevennes'
Bell heather 'Cevennes'
This cultivar of Bell heather is identifiable by its flower spikes and bright striking foliage. It was also created to have a longer blooming period. It blooms in the late spring and stays bright through the summer. The bell heather 'Cevennes' also has more blooms and can be covered with hundreds of visually appealing blooms.
Crossleaf heath 'Alba Mollis'
Crossleaf heath 'Alba Mollis'
Whereas the parent plant has mauve-colored flowers, crossleaf heath 'Alba Mollis' has bright white flowers. That explains the name, since "alba" means "white" in Latin. This attractive hybrid was given the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. The plan's unique urn-shaped flowers bloom for long periods throughout summer and into the fall. This low-maintenance plant is ideal for growing on slopes or as a hedge.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Heaths
Erica
Heaths is a genus of roughly 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. Around 690 of the species are endemic to South Africa. The remaining species are native to other parts of Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Most of the species of heaths are small shrubs from 20 to 150 cm high, though some are taller. All are evergreen, with minute, needle-like leaves. Flowers are sometimes axillary, and sometimes borne in terminal umbels or spikes, and are usually outward or downward facing. The seeds are very small.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
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Key Facts About Heaths
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Attributes of Heaths
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
5 - 32 ℃
Scientific Classification of Heaths
Distribution of Heaths
Feedback
Distribution Map of Heaths
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Heaths
Feedback
Heaths encompasses a variety of species often appreciated for their evergreen foliage and colorful flowers. Basic Care Needs for heaths include well-draining, acidic soil with regular watering to maintain slight moisture, avoiding waterlogging. They thrive in full to partial sun and prefer a cool, temperate climate. Common Challenges are root rot, fungal diseases, and pests like aphids and spider mites. Seasonally, heaths may require protection from harsh winter frosts and less water during dormant periods, with increased attention to blooming cycles in spring.
Exploring the Heaths Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Tree heath
Tree heath is a small, erect tree with needle-like leaves. The flowers of this plant look like small bells and smell similar to honey which makes them appealing to pollinators. Native to Southern Europe, tree heath has spread to other parts of the world and is considered a weed in Australia.
Bell heather
Bell heather (Erica cinerea) is a flowering evergreen shrub that is native to western and central Europe. It grows well in relatively dry, acidic soil and is often found in moors and heathlands. Bell heather is known as one of the top nectar-producing plants in the UK and is an important plant in the production of heather honey.
Christmas heather
The pink flowers of the hairy grey heather can grow in thousands and cover the small tree in the summer. It has a large spray of pink or white-tinged bells that protrude from the brown anthers. It’s grown as a container and ornamental plant in some areas and blooms from fall to spring.
Mediterranean heath
Mediterranean heath develops into a wide bush that is covered in flowers through fall and winter. The wood of the plant is turned into tools and the roots are occasionally crafted into musical pipes. Additionally, some traditions hold that carrying mediterranean heath brings luck.
Show More Species
All Species of Heaths
Tree heath
Bell heather
Christmas heather
Mediterranean heath
Whorl heath
Winter heath
Cornish heath
Spanish heath
Colour-changing heath
Crossleaf heath
Besom heath
Dorset heath
Mackay's heath 'Maura'
Heath
Erica subdivaricata
Cornish heath 'Valerie Proudley'
Erica × darleyensis 'Ghost Hills'
Blackcrown Heath
Erica × darleyensis 'Darley Dale'
Spanish heath 'Riverslea'
Heaths 'P.D. Williams'
Winter heath 'Challenger'
Bell heather 'Pentreath'
Winter heath 'Ice Princess'
Bell heather 'Golden Hue'
Irish heath 'Brian Proudley'
Tree heath 'Estrella Gold'
Winter heath 'Pink Spangles'
Winter heath 'Sunshine Rambler'
Erica sparsa
Erica × darleyensis 'White Perfection'
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey'
Heaths 'Dawn'
Irish heath 'W.T. Rackliff'
Erica × darleyensis 'Kramer's Rote'
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter'
Erica × darleyensis 'Arthur Johnson'
Erica × darleyensis
Winter heath 'Golden Starlet'
Winter heath 'Myretoun Ruby'
Winter heath 'Adrienne Duncan'
Cornish heath 'Mrs D.F. Maxweil'
Winter heath 'Springwood White'
Tree heath 'Albert's Gold'
Winter heath 'Ann Sparkes'
Winter heath 'Alba Minor'
Winter heath 'Whitehall'
Bell heather 'Cevennes'
Crossleaf heath 'Alba Mollis'
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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