Spanish heath

8.4

A dense upright shrub with many white or pink flowers that grows naturally in western Spain and Portugal

noun

: erica lusitana

The garden is famous for its collection of Spanish heath, which blooms profusely in spring.

Examples

We planted Spanish heath along the hedge to add color during the summer months.
Spanish heath can become invasive in some regions due to its rapid growth.
The Spanish heath blooms beautifully in spring.
Many gardeners love the Spanish heath for its vibrant flowers.
The garden is famous for its collection of Spanish heath, which blooms profusely in spring.
We planted Spanish heath along the hedge to add color during the summer months.
Many gardeners love the Spanish heath for its vibrant flowers.

Synonyms

Erica lusitanica

vsSpanish heath

Specialized

9.9

A small evergreen shrub with many pale pink or white flowers

is the everyday English name used for the same species

Portuguese heath

vsSpanish heath

9.5

An evergreen shrub with dense leaves and small pink or white bell-shaped flowers

is an alternative name used more broadly or in different regions

Surface Forms

Spanish heath singular

Spanish heaths plural

Morphology

Spanish + heath

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'Spanish' (from Spain) + 'heath' (a type of shrub), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a kind of heath associated with Spain. While specific botanical details (native range, flower colour) are not predictable from the parts, the basic referent as a Spanish variety of heath is transparently compositional and cross-linguistically obvious.

Etymology

Spanish heath names a low, bushy plant that originally comes from Spain, where Spanish points to its origin and heath means 'open land' covered in 'low shrubs'. Think of a field of pink and white bushes in Spain to remember that the name refers to this particular plant.