Bell heather; Brezo ceniciento

It is a low, spreading shrub growing to 15–60 centimetres tall, with fine needle-like leaves 4–8 millimetres long arranged in whorls of three. The flowers are bell-shaped, purple (rarely white), 4–7 millimetres long, produced in mid to late summer. The flowers are dry, similar in texture to the strawflower. It is also grown as an ornamental plant, cultivated in a wider range of colors. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in full sun with well-drained soil. Like most heathers, it is a calcifuge and dislikes alkaline soils (e.g. limestone) which cause the symptoms of iron deficiency. The Latin specific epithet cinerea means "ash coloured".