Erica arborea L.

Shrub or tree 0.3– 7.5 m high, trunk diameter to at least 5 cm; much-branched, with ascending branches, the branches red-brown; stems pubescent with short smooth hairs and longer dendritic hairs to 1 mm.. Leaves in whorls of 3– 4, appressedor ascending, needle-like, 2– 6.5 mm long, 0.5– 1 mm wide, margins minutely denticulate, glabrous; petiole 0.4– 0.7 mm long, glabrous.. Flowers clustered towards the end of short lateral branches, where their density may give impression of continuous flowers along branches; pedicels 1.5– 4 mm long, glabrous or rarely with a few hairs, with bract and 2 ciliolate bracteoles to 1.3 mm long below the middle.. Calyx 4-merous, 1.1– 1.9 mm long, the lobes ovate, 0.6– 1.2 mm long, ciliolate (sometimes with dendritic hairs) to glabrous, saccate at base.. Corolla white or pink, campanulate, pendulous, 1.5– 4 mm long, widest at the mouth or almost so; stamens 8, included in corolla, anthers bifid and dehiscing by an oblique pore, with two small dorsal/basal appendages; disc present; ovary glabrous, style 0.5– 2 mm long, stigma capitate, 0.2– 0.5 mm in diameter.. Fruit a glabrous capsule.. Fig. 3.

It is a Mediterranean plant. It is best in an acid soil and an open sunny position. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Plants can be grown from seeds.