Tree heath (Erica arborescens)
Care, watering, light and tips for Tree heath on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Ericaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Tree heath
Erica arborescens, commonly known as Tree Heather or Branle, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean region. It can reach heights of up to 7 meters, featuring reddish-brown peeling bark and a profusion of tiny white or pinkish flowers in spring. It's ideal for informal hedging, as a specimen plant in Mediterranean gardens, or to add texture and winter blooms in large pots.
Native range
Mediterranean region, including Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Care tips
It requires full sun for abundant flowering and optimal development, though it tolerates some partial shade. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out slightly between waterings, and excellent drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogging. It prefers acidic, well-drained soils rich in organic matter; avoid calcareous soils. A common mistake is planting it in alkaline soils, which can cause chlorosis and poor growth.
How to save a dying Tree heath
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown leaves, wilting, flower drop.
- First aid
- Move to semi-shade, check drainage, water with lime-free water if soil is dry.
- What kills it
- Calcareous soil, overwatering (waterlogging), direct sun and intense heat.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not rotten and quick action is taken with proper changes.