Lucky White Heather - is it unusual?

[PeteTheBloke]

I assume this is Erica tetralix but I want to know if it's unusual to see it in this pretty white form? I don't remember seeing it like this before. Photographed on an exposed sea cliff, North Donegal (amongst - indeed surrounded by - the normal pink form).

[PeteTheBloke]

Could it be E. mackaiana? Or something else again?

[diggleken]

Made me think this has Pete! (not easy).
Although bell heather and cross leaved heath flower a bit earlier than ling, I cant remember seeing white forms of those before - ling/heather yes, but this, no.
Interesting to see if others have.....................
Cheers
Ken

[Dorts]

Hi Pete
Yes, you are right, it is Cross-leaved Heath - Erica tetralix and in my experience, it is not at all common. I have only come across it twice in my lifetime of botanizing. So for me it is a rarity.

The 'Lucky White Heather' you see being sold is usually Tree Heath - E. arborea, a cultivated plant.
A good find.
Dorts.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by Dorts

The 'Lucky White Heather' you see being sold is usually Tree Heath - E. arborea, a cultivated plant.

In my experience most of the 'lucky white heather' hawked around the streets is dried Sea-lavender.

[PeteTheBloke]

I think I've sent the thread off on a tangent with my flippant title
I wasn't actually suggesting this was lucky, or "heather".... though I felt quite lucky finding it, if only because it's very attractive.