Erica lusitanica
Portuguese heath
Overview
Erica lusitanica is an evergreen shrub reaching 3-8 feet (0.9-2.5 m) tall and 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) wide, with an erect, many-stemmed habit and feathery foliage. The leaves are needle-like, 0.2-0.3 inch (4-8 mm) long, soft, and arranged in whorls of three to four along the slender stems. Masses of small tubular flowers about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) long are carried in narrow clusters along the upper stems, pink in bud and opening white, from late autumn through spring. The flowers carry a faint scent and are followed by tiny capsules holding dust-like seed. Growth is fast, and plants flower within two to three years from seed. It grows in a wide range of soils and tolerates poor, disturbed ground. A single plant produces large quantities of wind- and water-borne seed, and the species is listed as an environmental weed in parts of Australia and New Zealand, where it invades pasture, roadsides, and bushland.
Native Range
Native to southwestern Europe, in Portugal, Spain, and southwestern France. Grows on heath, open hillsides, and disturbed ground in mild, moist climates. Naturalized and weedy in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and recorded in parts of the western United States.Suggested Uses
Grown in some gardens as a winter- and spring-flowering hedge or screen, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart, though its weediness limits planting in many regions. Suited to acid-soil and heath-style plantings where seedlings can be controlled. Self-seeding can lead to naturalized populations in mild climates.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 8'
Width/Spread2' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from late autumn through spring, mainly May to October in the Southern Hemisphere and November to April in the Northern Hemisphere. The small tubular flowers open white from pink buds and carry a faint scent. Bloom continues over several months, with the heaviest display in late winter and early spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, pink in budFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade in moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil. Water during establishment; established plants tolerate dry periods but flower most freely with occasional moisture. It grows on poor and disturbed soils without feeding, which contributes to its spread. The plant self-seeds heavily, producing large numbers of wind- and water-borne seeds. Removing plants before seed set limits spread. It is listed as an environmental weed in parts of Australia and New Zealand.Pruning
Trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact shape and reduce seed set; the stems tolerate removal of up to one-third of the season growth. Cutting back into bare old wood reshoots poorly, so trimming is kept to leafy stems. Removing spent flowers before seed disperses limits self-sowing.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons