{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Erica australis.JPG |genus = Erica (plant) |species = australis |authority = L.<ref name = IPNI>{{cite web | url= http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do;jsessionid=ABBC1DB1482CC736B105CE1B19044502?id=328245-1&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditSimplePlantNameSearch.do%3Bjsessionid%3DABBC1DB1482CC736B105CE1B19044502%3Ffind_wholeName%3DErica%2Baustralis%26output_format%3Dnormal | title = Erica australis | publisher = International Plant Names Index | access-date= 16 February 2018}}</ref> }}
''''' Erica australis''''', the '''Spanish heath''' or '''Southern tree heath''',<ref name=Proudley /> is a European species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae.
It is a bushy evergreen shrub growing to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off|frac=2}} tall and broad, with tiny needle-like leaves and pink to purple bell-shaped flowers in late spring. As a calcifuge, it requires sharply drained acidic soil in full sun. It is hardy down to {{convert|-10|C|F|abbr=on}}.
The Latin specific epithet ''australis'' means 'southern', referring to its native habitat of southern Europe,<ref name="RHSLG">{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=184533731X }}</ref> including the western Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Western Spain) as well as Northwest Africa (in Morocco).
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental and has produced numerous forms and cultivars,<ref name=Proudley>{{cite book |author1=Brian Proudley |author2=Valerie Proudley |title=Heathers in Colour |date=1989 |publisher=Blandford Press |isbn=0713714204 |pages=143-144 |edition=2nd |quote=''Erica australis'' (Spanish heath, Southern tree heath) ... Although many fine plants are in cultivation ... we believe we have been able to increase the colour range available.}}</ref> gaining the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for ''E. australis'' 'Mr Robert'.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/92599/i-Erica-australis-i-Riverslea/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Erica australis'' ‘Riverslea’ | access-date=16 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 35 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 16 February 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscat inline|Erica australis|''Erica australis''}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5835684}}
australis Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus