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Ericaceae
Portuguese Heath
Erica lusitanica
Solitude and protection.
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Genus
- Erica
- Native to
- Portugal, Spain, France
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring
- Type
- shrub
- Height
- 3-10 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- acidic, well-drained, sandy
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 8-10
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- It blooms profusely in winter when few other plants flower, producing thousands of tiny bell-shaped blossoms on each bush.
- Portuguese heath is considered invasive in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of California, where it displaces native vegetation.
- The flowers produce abundant nectar that is critical for honeybees during the winter months when other food sources are scarce.
- In its native Iberian Peninsula, it grows in fire-prone landscapes and regenerates quickly from its root crown after burning.
- A single mature plant can produce over a million seeds per year, which are dispersed by wind and water.
Color meanings
0
solitude
1
protection
2
admiration