All flowers
Dorset Heath Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Dorset Heath

Erica ciliaris

Solitude and protection.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Erica
Native to
Western Europe, Portugal, Spain, France, England
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
Evergreen shrub
Height
0.2-0.6 meters
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Acidic, moist, peaty
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
7-9
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Dorset heath is one of the rarest heathland plants in Britain, found only in Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall.
  • Its urn-shaped flowers are larger than most other European heather species.
  • The plant has tiny hairs (cilia) along its leaf edges, giving it the species name 'ciliaris.'
  • It thrives in wet heathland habitats that are becoming increasingly rare across Europe.
  • Dorset heath is a flagship species for heathland conservation efforts in southern England.

Color meanings

0

Solitude

1

Protection

2

Admiration

Uses

  • Heathland restoration
  • Garden heathers
  • Ground cover
  • Wildlife habitat