What are heath balds in the southern Appalachian Mountains?

In the southern Appalachian Mountains, heath balds are distinct ecological features found on certain high-elevation summits. Rather than being traditional open meadows or grasslands, these areas are characterized by dense, thick growths of heath shrubs interspersed with open spaces.1

These balds are particularly noted for their vibrant displays of flowering shrubs, including rhododendron, azalea, and mountain laurel. A prominent example is Roan Mountain, located in the Unaka Range on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It features approximately 1,200 acres of these natural gardens, which become covered in vivid rose, pink, and purple rhododendron blooms across the high pinnacle and surrounding slopes.1