Spring heath (Erica carnea)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Erica carnea L.
Common name(s):	spring heath

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Naturalised in New Zealand, where it occurs on roadside (Heegan et al 2004). Grows in sloping, sandy or gravely terrain, rock garden or rock retaining walls (Mackenzie 2006), coniferous woods, stony slopes, particularly the alpine areas (Royal Horticultural Society 2008), bogs, some getting washed by the sea at very high tides (Underhill 1971), moist spots (Underhill 1971). Soils; “well-drained, acidic, sandy or loamy soils. Needs occasional deep watering in drought” (Mackenzie 2006) Any well-drained soil; lime tolerant; full sun or part shade (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) Tolerates “a mildly alkaline soil and partial shade though they thrive best on neutral, sand soil in full sun” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) Pinus mugo and Erica carnea community of the subalpine belt presented acid soils (Minghetti et al 1997) Grows in “limy soil although it will stand an incredible wide range of other soils” (Underhill 1971) Any well-drained soil (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) tolerates salt (Mackenzie 2006) “Suffer damage at 20 [-7⁰ C] of frost or more.” (Underhill 1971).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
forestry; horticulture perennial; pasture irrigation

Ecological Vegetation Divisions
Coastal; heathland; grassy/heathy dry forest; swampy scrub; freshwater wetland (permanent); treed swampy wetland; lowland forest; foothills forest; forby forest; damp forest; riparian; wet forest; high altitude shrubland/woodland; high altitude wetland; granitic hillslopes; rocky outcrop shrubland; riverine woodland/forest; freshwater wetland (ephemeral); saline wetland; chenopod shrubland;

Colours indicate possibility of Erica carne infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distribution of erica carnea

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	Grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006) – minimal or negligible impact	l	mh
2. Reduce tourism?	Forms “dense hummocks and mats covered with rosy-red flowers throughout the winter” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – minor effects to aesthetics	ml	m
3. Injurious to people?	No mention of injurious properties in the literature (Mackenzie 2006) – no effect	l	mh
4. Damage to cultural sites?	Grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006) – little or negligible effect on aesthetics or structure of site	l	mh
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Terrestrial (Mackenzie 2006) – little or negligible affect on water flow	l	mh
6. Impact water quality?	Terrestrial and grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006) – no noticeable effect on dissolved oxygen or light levels	l	mh
7. Increase soil erosion?	Groundcover for controlling erosion (Mackenzie 2006)	l	mh
8. Reduce biomass?	“In the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased.” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) It is also only grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006) – may significantly decrease biomass	h	mh
9. Change fire regime?	“In the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased.” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) It is also only grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006). As this may significantly decrease the biomass of the vegetation community it would greatly change the frequency and/or intensity of fire risk.	h	m
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC = Valley Grassy Forest (V); CMA = North Central; Bioregion = Goldfields; H CLIMATE potential. Due to its allelopathic properties “in the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased” (Djurdjevic et al 1998). Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008)	h	mh
(b) medium value EVC	EVC = Shallow Sands Woodlands (D); CMA = Wimmera; Bioregion = Lowan Mallee; H CLIMATE potential. Due to its allelopathic properties “in the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased” (Djurdjevic et al 1998). Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008)	h	mh
(c) low value EVC	EVC = Sand Heatland (LC); CMA = Glenelg Hopkins; Bioregion = Greater Grampians; H CLIMATE potential. Due to its allelopathic properties “in the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased” (Djurdjevic et al 1998). Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008)	h	mh
11. Impact on structure?	Due to its allelopathic properties “in the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased” (Djurdjevic et al 1998). Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – major effect on all layers	h	mh
12. Effect on threatened flora?	Due to its allelopathic properties “in the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased.” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008). However it is not yet known to effect populations of Bioregional Priority 1A* species or VROT species.	mh	l
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	“In the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased.” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – this sp. could change habitat dramatically, however it is not yet known to effect habitat of VROT or Bioregional Priority species.	mh	l
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	“In the places in the forest where E. carnea is dominating, the numerosity and degree of coverage of other herbaceous plants are considerably decreased.” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) Also forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – this sp. could change habitat dramatically, leading to the possible extinction of non-threatened fauna	h	m
15. Benefits fauna?	As it forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008), grows to 30 cm (Mackenzie 2006) and is a food source to red deer Cervus elaphus (Suter et al 2004) and gall midge (Underhill 1971), E. carnea may provide some assistance in food or shelter to desirable spp.	mh	m
16. Injurious to fauna?	Injurious properties not mentioned in the literature (Mackenzie 2006; Underhill 1971) – no effect	l	mh
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	Rabbits sometimes feed on young Erica spp. plants (Underhill 1971) – supplies food for serious pest, but at low levels	mh	m
18. Provides harbor?	Evergreen that forms “dense hummocks and mats” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008). Rabbits burrow underneath Erica spp. plants (Underhill 1971) – capacity to provide harbour and permanent warrens for rabbits and foxes throughout the year	h	m
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Not listed as an agricultural weed (Randall 2007), however it has been known to cause serious growth problems in crop plants [as syn. E. mediterranea], “particularly with various grass species” (Rice 1984). Also listed as a weed with allelopathic inhibitory activity on crop plants, specifically affecting oats [as syn. E. mediterranea] (Qasem, Foy 2001) – has a potential to impact yield of crops and pasture, however to what extent is unknown	m	l
20. Impact quality?	Not listed as an agricultural weed (Randall 2007), however it has been known to cause serious growth problems in crop plants [as syn. E. mediterranea], “particularly with various grass species” (Rice 1984). Also listed as a weed with allelopathic inhibitory activity on crop plants, specifically affecting oats [as syn. E. mediterranea] (Qasem, Foy 2001) – has a potential to impact quality of yield, however to what extent is unknown	m	l
21. Affect land value?	Listed as a weed with allelopathic inhibitory activity on crop plants, specifically affecting oats [as syn. E. mediterranea] (Qasem, Foy 2001). Although it is not listed as an agricultural weed (Randall 2007) and is unlikely to affect land value	l	m
22. Change land use?	It has been known to cause serious growth problems in crop plants [as syn. E. mediterranea], “particularly with various grass species” (Rice 1984), specifically affecting oats [as syn. E. mediterranea] (Qasem, Foy 2001) – may need to change crops, which may lead to downgrading of the priority of the land use	mh	m
23. Increase harvest costs?	Listed as a weed with allelopathic inhibitory activity on crop plants, specifically affecting oats [as syn. E. mediterranea] (Qasem, Foy 2001). Although it is not listed as an agricultural weed (Randall 2007) and is unlikely to increase harvest costs	l	m
24. Disease host/vector?	No Information found	m	l

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Erica cinerea requires cold stratification (Vera 1997); E. scoparia germinates in summer (Arévalo, Fernández-Palacios 2001); heat and light increase germination in E. vagans (Valbeuna, Vera 2002). Although many Erica spp. require natural seasonal disturbances to germinate, the germination requirements of E. carnea is unknown	m	l
2. Establishment requirements?	Although gardeners claim it needs full sun (Mackenzie 2006), in its native range it is “widespread within the community of Austrian and Scots pine” (Djurdjevic et al 1998) – can establish without additional factors	h	h
3. How much disturbance is required?	Will stand moist spots and grows in bogs (Underhill 1971), grows scattered on a roadside in NZ (Heenan et al 2004) and is “naturally found in coniferous woods and on stony slopes” (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – establishes in relatively intact or only minor disturbed natural ecosystems	mh	m
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Shrub (Djurdjevic et al 1998) – other	l	h
5. Allelopathic properties?	Has been known to cause serious growth problems in crop plants [as syn. E. mediterranea], “particularly with various grass species” (Rice 1984) – seriously affecting some plants	mh	mh
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	Strong secondary component of red deer Cervus elaphus diet (Suter et al 2004). Gall midge also feeds on E. carnea (Underhill 1971) – consumed but recovers quickly	mh	m
7. Normal growth rate?	“perennial dominant species” (Djurdjevic et al 1998), but is slow growing (Mackenzie 2006) – slow growth; will be exceeded by many other species	l	mh
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	“Suffer damage at 20˚ [-7˚ C] of frost or more.” (Underhill 1971) The Irish form “grows in bogs... some plants actually getting washed by the sea at very high tides.” (Underhill 1971) Salt tolerant and “needs occasional watering during drought” (Mackenzie 2006) Tolerant to waterlogging, salinity, frost and not drought tolerant	mh	mh
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Produces seed (Bullock, Moy 2004). However many Erica spp. also reproduce by vegetative means, e.g. E. vagans (Vera 1997), E. scoparia (Bartolomè et al 2005) E. cinerea (Vera 1997). E. carnea can also be propagated with cuttings (Heather Society 2008) – vegetative and sexual reproduction	h	m
10. Number of propagules produced?	Given that “Erica plants produce very large quantities of seeds, with large plants producing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of seeds per year” (Bullock, Moy 2004), it is likely that E. carnea will produce above 2000 seeds per flowering event	h	mh
11. Propagule longevity?	“transient” seed bank, i.e. seed persists in the soil for less than one year (Cerabolini et al 2003)	l	h
12. Reproductive period?	Lives for 10 years (Royal Horticultural Society 2008) – likely to produce viable propagules for 3-10 years	mh	m
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Unknown	m	l
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	The dispersal mechanisms of E. carnea are unknown, however other European Erica spp, such as E. vagans and E. scoparia are dispersed by wind and gravity (Canals, Sebastia 2002; Bartolomè et al 2005). As the seed mass of E. carnea (0.08g) is slightly more than E. scoparia (0.02) (Cerabolini et al 2003) it would follow that dispersal would not be greater by these mechanisms.	mh	m
15. How far do they disperse?	As seeds are likely to be via low wind and gravity (Canals, Sebastia 2002; Bartolomè et al 2005) very few will disperse to one kilometre	ml	m

References

Bartolomè J, Lòpez ZG, Boncano MJ, Plaixats J (2005) Grassland colonization by Erica scoparia (L.) in the Montseny Biosphere Reserve (Spain) after land-use changes.
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 111, 253-260

Blaschka A, Krautzer B, Graiss W, Burella P, Dainese M, Diana E, Iliadis K, Karyotis T, Kitzekova M, Zimkova M (n.d) Restoration at high altitudes – Results from European
restoration trials in the frame of the EU Project “SURE.” Available at http://www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at/filearchive/fodok_2_1894_Bericht_Blaschka.pdf (verified 13
November 2008)

Canals RM, Sebastia MT (2002) Heathland dynamics in biotically disturbed areas: on the role of some features enhancing heath success. Acta Oecologica 23, 303-312

Cerabolini B, Ceriani RM, Caccianiga M, De Andreis R, Raimondi B (2003) Seed size, shape and persistence in soil: a test on Italian flora from Alps to Mediterranean coasts. Seed Science Research 13, 75-85

Djurdjevic L, Dinic A, Mitrovic M, Pavlovic P (1998) Allelopathy of Erica carnea, a dominant species in the mixed pine forests at the Maljen Mountain (Serbia). In: Tsekos I,
Moustakas M, Progress in Botanical Research: Proceedings 1st Balken Botanical Congress, Springer

Heather Society (2008) How to propagate heathers. Available at http://www.heathersociety.org.uk/propagation.html (verified 27 November 2008)

Heenan PB, de Lange PJ, Cameron EK, Ogle GC, Champion PD (2004) Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 2001-2003. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42, 797-814

Mackenzie DS (2006) Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ground Covers. Timber Press.

Minghetti P, Sartori G, Lambert K (1997) Soil-vegetation relationship in the Pinus mugo turra shrubs of Trentino (Italy). Revue d’Ecologie Alpine 4, 23-34

Qasem JR, Foy CL (2001) Weed Allelopathy, its ecological impacts and future prospects: A review. In: Kohli RK, Singh HP, Batish DR (Edts) Allelopathy in Agroecosystems.
Haworth Press.

Randall R (2007) Erica carnea (Ericaceae). Global Compendium of Weeds. Available at http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/erica_carnea/ (verified 13 November 2008)

Rice EL (1984) Allelopathy, 2nd Edition. Academic Press, Inc.

Royal Horticultural Society (2008) Plant of the Month: February. Available at http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/archive/harlowcarrpomfeb.asp (verified 25
November 2008)

Soons MB, Bullock JM (2008) Non-random seed abscission, long-distance wind dispersal and plant migration rates. Journal of Ecology 96, 581-590

Suter W, Suter U, Krüsi B, Schütz M (2004) Spatial variation of summer diet of red deer Cervus elaphus in the eastern Swiss Alps. Wildlife Biology 10(1), 43-50

Turner D, Conran JG (2004) The reproductive ecology of two naturalised Erica species (Ericaceae) in the Adelaide Hills: the rise and fall of two ‘would-be’ weeds? Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 128(1), 23-31

Underhill TL (1971) Heaths and heathers; Calluna, Daboecia and Erica. David & Charles: Newton Abbot

Global present distribution data references

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2008) Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 13 November 2008).

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