Cornish heath
Erica vagans
Family · Ericaceae · Harmless
The heath of the northwest and the Pyrenees, flowering late, in August and September, with pale pink or white flowers in long spikes and dark anthers protruding from the corolla.
Uplands · Scrubland · Oak woods
Also known aswandering heath
How to tell it
A low dense shrub to a metre. Needle leaves in whorls of four or five, dark green. Flowers shaped like a short broad bell, pale pink to white, gathered in long leafy spikes along the previous year's branches. The dark brown anthers protrude from the bell, which identifies it. Range: mainly a Spanish plant, practically absent from Portugal.
What it is confused with
Tree heath
Erica arborea
Tree heath is a two to seven metre tree with masses of white flowers in spring; this is a low shrub with pink flowers at the end of summer. Neither is dangerous.
Open sheet →What it is for
No food use. It is an important honey plant giving a dark strong honey. Heaths in general gave brooms, pipe bowls and firewood, and this is no exception.