Erica cinerea
Erica cinerea (bell heather, or heather-bell) is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to western and central Europe. It is a low, spreading shrub growing to 15–60 cm (5.9–23.6 in) tall, with fine needle-like leaves 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long arranged in whorls of three. The flowers are bell-shaped, purple (rarely white), 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long, produced in mid- to late summer. The flowers are dry, similar in texture to the strawflower.
The Latin specific epithet cinerea means "ash coloured".
It is also grown as an ornamental plant, cultivated in a wider range of colors. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in full sun with well-drained soil. Like most heathers, it is a calcifuge and dislikes alkaline soils (e.g. calcareous) which cause the symptoms of iron deficiency. Like other cultivated heathers, it is often seen as groundcover amongst plantings of dwarf conifers.
These cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
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