Plant
Cross-leaved Heath
Erica tetralixAlso known as Cross-Leaf Heath, Bog Heather
Cross-leaved heath thrives in wet acidic bogs, damp heathlands, and peatlands across western Europe. Its distinct pale pink, urn-shaped flowers cluster tightly at the tips of stems, surrounded by needle-like leaves arranged in neat whorls of four. Sticky, glandular hairs covering its flower stalks help deter crawling insects, ensuring nectar remains available for bumblebees.
EvergreenFloweringBog Plant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- Heather Beetle
- Red Deer
- Mountain Hare
ThreatsHabitat drainage, peatland degradation, nitrogen pollution
HabitatsWet heathlands, bogs, moorlands, peatlands
Life span15–30 years
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesErica tetralix
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
- Habitat Care: Stick to designated boardwalks or dry paths to protect fragile bog soils.
- Identification: Look for the distinct leaves arranged in whorls of four forming a cross pattern.
- Pollinator Observing: Watch for long-tongued bumblebees feeding at the bell-shaped blossoms.
Frequent Companion (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
Herbivore (c) Elena Obradović, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Sympatric Relative (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Paulo Martins, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Paulo Martins · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.