Mountain-heath (Phyllodoce caerulea, Man. Brit. Bot.: 194 (1843))

Family: Ericaceae

Author: (L.) Bab.

Bibliography: Man. Brit. Bot.: 194 (1843)

Year: 1843

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Phyllodoce

Vegetable: False

Observations: NC. Pyrenees (to Pico de la Mina), N. Europe to N. Korea, N. & NC. Japan, Subarctic America to NE. U.S.A.

Description

Mountain-heath, scientifically known as Phyllodoce caerulea, is a charming and resilient evergreen shrub belonging to the Ericaceae family. Described and classified by renowned botanist Charles Cardale Babington in 1843, this plant has since become a subject of interest for botanists and nature enthusiasts alike, due to its widespread habitat and distinctive characteristics.

Mountain-heath thrives in a myriad of harsh climates, making its home in the arctic and subarctic regions and extending its reach to various parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Its natural habitat spans from the Pyrenees mountain range, notably reaching the Pico de la Mina, across northern Europe, northern Korea, and into northern and central Japan. In North America, its presence is noted from subarctic regions extending down to the northeastern United States, showcasing its impressive adaptability.

This versatile shrub is commonly found in alpine and subarctic environments, where it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. Its tough, leathery leaves and bell-shaped flowers are visually captivating, often tinged with shades of blue, purple, or pink, which provide a striking contrast to the often barren landscapes it populates. Mountain-heath’s blooms are a vital source of nectar for pollinators in these high-altitude and frigid environments.

The resilience of Phyllodoce caerulea is evident in its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, including severe cold and high winds. This adaptability not only highlights its evolutionary success but also its importance in maintaining biodiversity in some of the world’s most challenging ecosystems. The hardy nature of Mountain-heath allows it to stabilize soils and prevent erosion, making it an indispensable component of its native habitats.

Common Names

Eng: blue mountain heath, blue-heath, mountain-heath, phyllodoce bleue, purple mountain heather, blue heath, blue mountain heather, scottish menziesia
Swe: lappljung, fjälljung
Fra: phyllodoce bleue, andromède bleue
Sme: várredaŋas, váravárpu, váravárpá
Gla: fraoch a’ mhèinnearaich
Cym: grug glas, gruglas
En: Mountain-heath, Blue-heath, Blue mountain heath, Phyllodoce bleue, Purple mountain heather, Blue Heath, Scottish Menziesia, Blue mountain heather, Blue Mountainheath
Fr: Phyllodoce bleue, Andromède bleue
De: Moosheide
Se: Várredaŋas, Váravárpu, Váravárpá
Gd: Fraoch a’ Mhèinnearaich
Sv: Lappljung, Fjälljung
Cy: Grug Glas, Gruglas
: Blue mountainheath

Synonyms

• Menziesia taxifolia ((Salisb.) J.W.Robbins ex Alph.Wood)
• Bryanthus taxifolius ((Salisb.) A.Gray)
• Phyllodoce caerulea f. albida (Uyeki)
• Phyllodoce taxifolia (Salisb.)
• Andromeda caerulea (L.)
• Andromeda taxifolia ((Salisb.) Pall.)
• Menziesia caerulea ((L.) Sw.)
• Bryanthus caeruleus ((L.) Dippel)
• Erica caerulea ((L.) Willd.)
• Erica arctica (K.F.Waitz)

Distribution

• Alaska (native)
• Aleutian Is. (native)
• Amur (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Chita (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Québec (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Tuva (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Nikolai Kurzenko (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 5, 2020 by Barbora Sobotkova (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2021 by Kim Reuter (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken May 1, 2020 by Anna Helena (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Nikolai Kurzenko (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Nikolai Kurzenko (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 30, 2019 by Rémi beydon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 5, 2022 by václav S (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2020 by Andreas Schatz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2020 by Bjørnar Hassel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Fruit

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Folkard Asch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5333379)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1024147-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Phyllodoce caerulea (L.) Bab.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Subshrub, Shrub

Growth

Ph maximum: 4.5

Ph minimum: 4.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]

Soil nutriments: 1