Heath

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.

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