The tree heather is an evergreen Mediterranean shrub, typical of scrubland and woodland clearings, highly valued for its firewood and for the root from which smoking pipes are made.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Ericales |
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Genus | Erica |
| Species | Erica arborea |
It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that in the Iberian Peninsula usually measures between 1 and 4 metres, although in other regions it can grow larger. Its leaves are tiny, linear and have rolled margins, arranged in clusters along the branches.
In spring it is covered in small, bell-shaped white flowers, rich in nectar, which give it its characteristic snow-covered look.
It is native to Mediterranean scrubland, from south-western Europe to the Balkans, and is also found in the Canary Islands, Madeira and some mountains of eastern Africa. It grows on acidic soils, in woodland clearings and sunny slopes, from sea level to mid-mountain areas.
The thick, woody root of the tree heather, very hard and heat-resistant, has traditionally been used to make the famous “briar” smoking pipes, as well as providing high-quality charcoal.
