Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae
Heather Bell
Erica cinerea
Scottish highlands, solitude, and good luck.
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Genus
- Erica
- Native to
- Western Europe
- Bloom season
- Summer, Early Fall
- Type
- evergreen dwarf shrub
- Height
- 15–60 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- acidic, sandy, well-drained
- Water
- low to moderate
- Hardiness
- 5–8
- Lifespan
- perennial; up to 30 years
Did you know
- White heather is traditionally considered lucky in Scotland and is often included in bridal bouquets.
- Bell heather turns vast moorlands purple in summer, a spectacle that draws tourists to the Scottish Highlands.
- The tiny urn-shaped flowers are perfectly sized for bumblebees, which buzz-pollinate to shake out pollen.
- Heather honey is thick, aromatic, and highly prized — it is the only honey in the UK with a Protected Designation of Origin.
- In Scottish folklore, heather grew from the tears of a Pictish princess mourning her lost love.
Color meanings
0
admiration
1
solitude
2
good fortune