Pink heath

Pink heath (Epacris impressa or the common heath) is the official state flower of Victoria. The plant is a small spiky shrub that grows to approximately 2.5m high if left undisturbed. It is more usually about 50cm in height. The 8-16mm long leaves are stalkless, oval to lanceate, sharply pointed and crowded closely on the stems.

A typical pink heath in flower

Australian heath is also found with red and white flower colours, but pink is by far the commonest. The five-lobed bell-shaped flowers grow in dense clusters near the ends of the plants tall stems, virtually year-round. The plant can be grown in a garden environment, and it prefers wet soils typical of its natural heath and woodland environment.

A small prostrate red heath growing in harsh conditions

Heath is a member of the Ericaceae family of plants.