Erica vagans
Common name
Cornish heath
Family
Ericaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Features
A vigorous bushy evergreen shrub to 50-70 cm tall. It has feathery bright green foliage on ascending stems. The needle-like leaves (6-15 mm long) occur as whorls of 4, and roll outwards. The pink or rose flowers (often white in cultivation) are tubular to bell-shaped, and occur as small clusters in terminal or axillary panicles. The corolla is 3-4 mm long and hairless, with long black anthers, 6-15 mm long. Flowering takes place between Dec-May. Seed capsules have not been seen in NZ.
Flowering
December, January, February, March, April, May
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Year naturalised
1981
Origin
West Europe
Etymology
erica: From the Greek ereika ‘heath’ or ‘heather’
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental