Erica ( /ˈɛrɨkə/), is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names "heath" and "heather" are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance. The genus Calluna was formerly included in Erica – it differs in having even smaller scale-leaves (less than 2–3 mm long), and the flower corolla being more divided into separate petals. Erica is sometimes referred to as "winter (or spring) heather" to distinguish it from Calluna (summer (or autumn) heather).
Read more about Erica: Description, Habitat, Cultivation, Ecology