Erica (plant)

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox divisio entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox genus entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision Over 700 species, including:
Erica arborea
Erica caffra
Erica carnea
Erica ciliaris
Erica cinerea
Erica erigena
Erica mackaiana
Erica scoparia
Erica tetralix
Erica vagans Template:Taxobox end

Heath is the common name for plants of the genus Erica, which are mostly small shrubs. There are over 700 species, of which the great majority are endemic in South Africa; the remaining 70 or so species are native to other parts of Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Europe. The members of the large southern African group are often called the Cape Heaths. A related genus, Daboecia, is also often called a heath. The closely related heather, genus Calluna, is sometimes confused with the true heaths.

Erica arborea

Erica cinerea

Most of the species are small shrubs from 0.2-1.5 m high, though some are taller; the tallest are E. arborea (Tree Heath) and E. scoparia (Besom Heath), both of which can reach up to 6-7 m tall.

See also

• Heath (habitat)
• Michael Heath (cartoonist)
• Heath, Ohio
• Heath, Cardiff, Wales