Heath vs. Heather — What's the Difference?

A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler and damper climate.

A low-growing Eurasian shrub (Calluna vulgaris) in the heath family, growing in dense masses and having small evergreen leaves and clusters of small, bell-shaped pinkish-purple flowers. Also called ling2.

Any of various usually low-growing shrubs of the genus Erica and other genera of the heath family, native to Europe and South Africa and having small evergreen leaves and small, colorful, urn-shaped flowers. Also called heather.

See heath.

An extensive tract of uncultivated open land covered with herbage and low shrubs; a moor.

A grayish purple to purplish red.

A tract of level uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation; heathland.

An evergreen plant, Calluna vulgaris, with spiky leaves and small purple, pink, or white flowers.

Any small evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae.

A plant in the family Ericaceae.

Many of the species in the genus Erica

Various species of the genus Erica.

Many of the species in the genus Cassiope

Various species of the genus Cassiope.

Both species in the genus Daboecia

A purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.

Any of the species in the genus Epacris, Australian heath

(textiles) The use of interwoven yarns of mixed colours to produce flecks.

Any of the species in the genus Leucopogon, beard heath

Of a purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.

Any of the species in the genus Phyllodoce, mountain heath

Heath.

(countable) Certain butterflies and moths

Common Old World heath represented by many varieties; low evergreen grown widely in the northern hemisphere

The palearctic species of Coenonympha, a genus of brush-footed butterfly

Interwoven yarns of mixed colors producing muted grayish shades with flecks of color

Melitaea athalia, the heath fritillary

Semiothisa clathrata, a moth known as the latticed heath

A low shrub (Erica vulgaris or Calluna vulgaris), with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms, thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It is also called heather, and ling.

A place overgrown with heath; any cheerless tract of country overgrown with shrubs or coarse herbage.

A low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers

A tract of level wasteland; uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation