purple heath
Quick Summary
The term "purple heath" most commonly refers to Erica cinerea, also known as bell heather. This is a low, evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Erica, which comprises about 800 species primarily found in South Africa, with some also occurring in the Mediterranean region and northern Europe.1
Key characteristics of heaths include small, narrow leaves arranged in whorls and long-lasting, bell-shaped or tubular flowers. Erica cinerea is common in Great Britain and western Europe and produces abundant nectar. It is important to distinguish true heaths (Erica species) from heather (Calluna vulgaris), which is sometimes loosely called heath. Heather has a calyx that conceals the petals, whereas in true heaths, the petals are longer than the calyx.12
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