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Bell heather (Erica cinerea)

Bell heather is an introduced ornamental shrub that may escape gardens into suitable Australian habitats. If it establishes in native vegetation, dense growth could compete with local plants, so suspected wild populations are worth checking and reporting to the relevant local authority.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Western Europe, including the British Isles.

Established in: .

Other names: Scotch heather, Purple heather.

Best time to act: Survey while the shrub is flowering, generally in summer, and treat plants before their seed capsules mature.

Identification

  • It is a low, evergreen shrub with many woody, branching stems, usually forming a compact mound.
  • Its small, narrow, needle-like leaves occur in whorls of three along the stems.
  • The bell-shaped flowers are usually purple to pink and grow in clusters near the ends of the branches.
  • The flowers have four small lobes, and dark anthers may be visible at the opening.
  • After flowering, small capsules develop among the old flower parts.
  • Look-alike: Other heathers, including Erica species and common heather (Calluna vulgaris), can look similar; check the leaf arrangement and flower shape rather than relying on flower colour alone.
  • Look-alike: Calluna vulgaris has tiny, scale-like leaves arranged in opposite pairs, unlike the narrow leaves in whorls of three on bell heather.

Where it grows

In Australia, check disturbed or open sites near plantings, especially acidic, well-drained soils in heathland, woodland margins and other low-nutrient habitats.

Why it matters

  • Where it establishes, dense shrub growth could compete with native ground-layer plants for light, space and other resources.
  • An established population could change the composition and structure of low heath or woodland vegetation.
  • Avoid treating it as a confirmed widespread invader at a site until its identity and occurrence have been checked.

How it spreads

  • Bell heather is grown as an ornamental and can potentially escape from gardens into nearby suitable habitat.
  • Its small seeds may be carried from established plants, while soil or discarded garden material can move plant material to new sites.
  • Do not dump garden waste or move soil from sites where bell heather is growing.

Control options

  • For small plants, hand-pull or dig out the whole plant and root crown, preferably when the soil is moist and before capsules mature.
  • For larger woody plants, cut and remove the plant; use stump treatment only where an herbicide is registered for that use and the site, and follow its label and any local requirements.
  • Bag and dispose of flowering or seed-bearing material appropriately, and avoid disturbing surrounding native vegetation.
  • Recheck the site and remove regrowth or new seedlings; report suspected wild populations to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency where appropriate.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Remove soil and plant material from boots, tools, vehicles and machinery before leaving an infested site, and avoid carrying contaminated soil elsewhere.
  • Do not transport or dump soil or garden waste containing bell heather; clean equipment before moving between sites.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

Sources