Ceratiola ericoides Michx.

Florida Rosemary; Sandhill Rosemary; Sand Heath

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Sand Heath is a native evergreen woody shrub in the Azalea family (Ericaceae). It is native to the coastal counties of Alabama. Sand Heath occurs on dunes, in sand pine woods, in oak scrub, and in maritime longleaf pine forests. It is a woody shrub reaching heights of 6-8 feet. The bark is reddish gray and exfoliates in long strips. The leaves are petiolate, linear, and glandular. The leaves occur in whorls of 4-6 per node. Each leaf has a prominent longitudinal groove on the lower surface. The leaves are aromatic when crushed. Old twigs are rough with persistent leaf bases. Sand Heath is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Small sessile flowers are 2-3 per leaf axils along the stems. The very small flowers are ovate with persistent reddish-brown sepals and petals. The fruit is a yellow or red drupe containing two seed. Sand Heath is occasionally available from nurseries. It is drought and salt tolerant but does not survive poor drainage. Sand Heath is allelopathic, releasing chemicals into the environment that inhibit the growth of adjacent plants. It should not be planted adjacent to other desirable species.—A. Diamond

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Native

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