| Erica australis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Erica |
| Species: | E. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Erica australis | |
Erica australis, the Spanish heath or Southern tree heath, [2] is a European species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae.
It is a bushy evergreen shrub growing to 2 metres (6+1⁄2 feet) tall and broad, with tiny needle-like leaves and pink to purple bell-shaped flowers in late spring. As a calcifuge, it requires sharply drained acidic soil in full sun. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F).
The Latin specific epithet australis means 'southern', referring to its native habitat of southern Europe, [3] including the western Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Western Spain) as well as Northwest Africa (in Morocco).
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental and has produced numerous forms and cultivars, [2] gaining the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for E. australis 'Mr Robert'. [4] [5]
