| Erica cinerea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Erica |
| Species: | E. cinerea |
| Binomial name | |
| Erica cinerea L. |
|
Erica cinerea (bell heather, or heather-bell) is a species of heather, native to western and central Europe. It is a low shrub growing to 15–60 centimetres (5.9–24 in) tall, with fine needle-like leaves 4–8 millimetres (0.16–0.31 in) long arranged in whorls of three. The flowers are bell-shaped, purple (rarely white), 4–7 millimetres (0.16–0.28 in) long, produced in mid to late summer.
Bell heather is also used as an ornamental plant, coming in a wider range of colors. The flowers are dry, similar in texture to the strawflower. As an ornamental plant, it is drought-tolerant and grows well in full sun with well-drained soil.