Plant · GBIF taxon 2882482
common heather
Calluna vulgarisAlso known as Ling, Scotch Heather, Heather
Common heather blankets northern European moors and heathlands in late summer with dense displays of tiny pink to mauve blossoms. Scale-like evergreen leaves hug its wiry, woody stems year-round, conserving moisture in windy and nutrient-poor acidic soils. As a keystone shrub, it shelters ground-nesting birds, sustains specialized pollinators, and supports complex peatland ecosystems.
EvergreenFlowering ShrubHeathland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil minerals
Predators
- Red grouse
- Mountain hare
- Heather beetle
ThreatsLand development, overgrazing, loss of heathland management, and climate change
HabitatsMoors, bogs, heathlands, and open pine woodlands
Life span30 to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesCalluna vulgaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Best Viewing: Visit open moors between late August and September when colorful blooms peak.
- Habitat Respect: Stay on designated footpaths on wet moors to prevent damaging sensitive peat soils.
- Pollinator Watching: Pause near flowering patches on warm afternoons to see foraging bees.
Co-occurring Shrub (c) Benjamin Zwittnig, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Herbivore Herbivore 
Close Relative (c) Paulo Martins, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Paulo Martins · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Carminda Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Carminda Santos · cc-by
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