Erica australis
Erica australis, the Spanish heath or Spanish tree heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to the western Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Western Spain) and Northwest Africa (in Morocco). It is a bushy evergreen shrub growing to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and broad, with tiny needle-like leaves and pink to purple bell-shaped flowers in late Spring. As a calcifuge, it requires sharply drained acidic soil in full sun. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F).
| Erica australis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Erica |
| Species: | E. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Erica australis | |
The Latin specific epithet australis means “southern” - in this case, southern Europe (and northwestern Morocco).[2]
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental, and has produced numerous forms and cultivars. gaining the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for E. australis ‘Mr Robert’.[3][4]
References
- "Erica australis". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
- "RHS Plantfinder - Erica australis 'Riverslea'". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 35. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
External links
Media related to Erica australis at Wikimedia Commons