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Cornish Heath Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Cornish Heath

Erica vagans

Protection and solitude.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Erica
Native to
Cornwall, Western Europe, Iberian Peninsula
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
1-2.5 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
acidic, well-drained soil
Water
moderate
Hardiness
5-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Cornish heath is the county flower of Cornwall, England, where it grows wild on the dramatic Lizard Peninsula serpentine soils.
  • The species name 'vagans' means 'wandering,' referring to the plant's spreading, rambling growth habit.
  • In Cornwall, Cornish heath grows on rare serpentine rock soils rich in magnesium, a habitat found nowhere else in Britain.
  • The flowers produce abundant nectar and are one of the most important late-summer food sources for bees in heathland.
  • Heather honey produced from Erica species is prized for its distinctive flavor and jelly-like thixotropic texture.

Color meanings

0

independence

1

admiration

Uses

  • heather garden
  • ground cover for acidic soils