Erica spiculifolia, commonly known as spike heath or Balkan heath, is a species of plant native to southeastern Europe and northern Asia Minor. It is a dwarf evergreen shrub and heath-like plant to 10 in high. Leaves are dark green. The flowers are rose-pink and bell-shaped, appearing in terminal clusters in early summer.

Erica spiculifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Erica
Species:
E. spiculifolia
Binomial name
Erica spiculifolia
Synonyms[1]
  • Bruckenthalia spiculifolia (Salisb.) Rchb.
  • Bruckenthalia spiculifolia f. albiflora D.C.McClint.
  • Erica bruckenthalii (Baumg.) Spreng.
  • Erica olympiaca Sibth. ex Salisb.
  • Erica spiculifolia f. albiflora (D.C.McClint.) E.C.Nelson & D.C.McClint.
  • Erica transsylvanica Willd. ex Klotzsch
  • Menziesia bruckenthalii Baumg.

It inhabits sub-alpine areas with acid soils up to 2,800 meters elevation in the mountains of southeastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece) and northern Turkey.[2]

Cultivation

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The plant prefers sandy peat with lime-free. Propagate from seed, cuttings or division. It is suitable for rock gardens and borders.

References

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  1. ^ Erica spiculifolia Salisb. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 5 October 2022.
  2. ^ Erica spiculifolia : Balkan heath, Bruckenthalia. Heather World. Accessed 7 October 2022.