Pollinator plant

Spring Heath

Erica carnea

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Common names

33 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Sneeuwheide
  • Voorjaarsheide
  • Winterhei[2][3]
French
Bulgarian
  • Червена ерика[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 冬石南[3]
  • 春石南[3]
  • 春花歐石南[3]
Czech
  • vřesovec pleťový[3]
Danish
Finnish
  • lumikellokanerva[3]
German
Hungarian
  • Alpesi hanga[3]
Italian
Norwegian
Polish
  • Wrzosiec krwisty[3]
Russian
  • Эрика румяная[3]
Serbian
  • Ерика[3]
Slovak
  • vresovec mäsový[3]
Slovenian
  • spomladanska resa[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Funda Çalısı[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Erica carnea — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Spring Heath — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Erica carnea.
  • Alpine Heath — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Erica carnea.
  • Heath — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Erica carnea.
  • Scotch Heath — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Erica carnea.
  • Winter Heath — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Erica carnea.
[2] Erica carnea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Spring Heath — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Schnee-Heide — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Winter heath — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • brezo de invierno — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère carnée — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère des Alpes — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère des neiges — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Erica carnicina — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Winterhei — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
[3] Erica carnea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Spring Heath — results[9].names[1]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Schnee-Heide — results[9].names[2]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Winter heath — results[9].names[10]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • brezo de invierno — results[9].names[11]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère carnée — results[9].names[3]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère des Alpes — results[9].names[5]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Bruyère des neiges — results[9].names[4]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Erica carnicina — results[9].names[6]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Winterhei — results[9].names[8]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • vřesovec pleťový — results[9].names[7]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Vårlyng — results[9].names[9]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • vårlyng — results[9].names[12]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Alpesi hanga — results[9].names[13]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Червена ерика — results[9].names[14]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Эрика румяная — results[9].names[15]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Wrzosiec krwisty — results[9].names[16]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • vårljung — results[9].names[17]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 欧石南 — results[9].names[18]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 春石南 — results[9].names[19]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 春花歐石南 — results[9].names[20]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 春石南 — results[9].names[21]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • spomladanska resa — results[9].names[22]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • vresovec mäsový — results[9].names[23]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • lumikellokanerva — results[9].names[24]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 冬石南 — results[9].names[25]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • 冬石南 — results[9].names[26]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Ерика — results[9].names[27]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
  • Funda Çalısı — results[9].names[28]; taxon id 56306; Erica carnea.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Erica carnea ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Schnee-Heide (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153263; taxon 6GKM2.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Erica carnea is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Ericaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.15–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.15–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Horizontal; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Winter

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Erica species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable. The listing is limited to hardy types.

Sources [3]
Native range
C. & EC. Europe.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Spring Heath (Erica carnea) is a shrub. It flowers from January to May.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Erica carnea — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2130128; ID 6GKM2; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2130128; ID 6GKM2; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Erica carnea — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 2, entry Erica species (top 562 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Erica carnea — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1385539; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1365994, 1365995, 1365996, 1365997, 1365998, 1365999, 1366000, 1366001, 1366002

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.