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Erica mackayana, Mackay's heath, is a low flowering subshrub of the heath family, usually 20 to 30 cm tall, grown for its reddish purple to rose pink flowers. It is best given a sunny, open spot in acidic, well-drained soil.
Erica mackayana, also known as Mackay's heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae.
Like other species of heath, Erica mackayana has become a cultivated species. It was first cultivated in 1835, becoming popular with gardeners since its cuttings generally propagate successfully.
Erica mackayana is native to Spain and was likely introduced to Ireland, even though it is often described as native; it has a Hiberno-Lusitanian distribution. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington suggests that the species was brought to Ireland in the medieval period, potentially through trade, smuggling, or by pilgrims returning from Santiago de Compostela. A 2023 study found that E. mackayana populations in Ireland were connected to several different Spanish populations, suggesting more recent migration such as via trade routes in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Tree Heath · Spanish Heath · Hairy grey heather · Winter heath · Fire heath · Scotch heath · Darley Dale Heath · Irish Heath · Hairyflower Heath · Portuguese Heath · Nine-pin heath · Erica multiflora
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Erica mackayana by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
