Family: Ericaceae (European heaths, heather)

Status:

Description:
A dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub 1 to 3m high, with a very upright growth habit. Leaves are very small (4-7mm), narrow and tightly rolled, arranged in whorls of 3 or 4 around the stem. Flowers are tiny white bells (may be pink in bud), clustered at the branch tips, where they may be so profuse as to hide the foliage. Small (2-3mm) capsules contain many fine seeds.

Preferred habitat and impacts:
Not widely naturalised on the south coast, but occasionally seen around towns, or old farmhouses. Prefers open sunny situations, but will also invade forest. Much more invasive in cool moist climates such as southern Victoria and Tasmania, where it can dominate the understorey of forest and woodland.

Dispersal:
Spread from seed in dumped garden waste, and in contaminated soil, by wind and water. Tiny seeds are produced in very large numbers and remain viable for several years. They may germinate profusely after fire, or disturbance.

Look-alikes:
Many native heaths in the epacrid family (Leucopogon, Epacris, Monotoca, Lissanthe) have narrow leaves and small white bell flowers, but they can be distinguished by their alternate rather than whorled leaf arrangement. Most have leaves and flowers which are markedly bigger than those of Spanish heath, and flowers are not usually produced in such dense clusters. They are quite common on the south coast, often on poor sandy soils. One of the most common, and most similar to Spanish heath is the prickly beard-heath (Leucopogon juniperinus) which has quite small white tubular flowers (less than 1cm long). Its leaves are bigger than those of Spanish heath, and very sharp-pointed.
There are many other potentially weedy exotic heaths in the Erica family available in nurseries. Eight other species of Erica and heather (Calluna vulgaris) have proved to be weedy in other parts of eastern Australia, and are probably best avoided as garden plants.

Control:
Cut and paint mature plants. If this is done when plants are carrying seed, burn the remains, and be careful not to spread seed beyond the site of the initial infestation in the process. Seedlings may be hand-pulled or dug. Spraying with selective herbicides will be effective, but follow-up will probably be needed.