Heath

What is a Heath?

A heath is a special kind of shrubland where plants grow close to the ground. The soil here is poor and sandy, so it does not hold much water. Because of this, the plants stay short and do not grow very tall.

Where Do Heaths Grow?

Heaths grow in cool, wet places, especially in areas called moorlands. You can find heaths in many parts of the world! They grow in Australia, Southern Africa, the Texas chaparral, New Caledonia, central Chile, and near the Mediterranean Sea. They grow almost everywhere except Antarctica.

Fun Fact

In Australia, there are about 3,700 special plants that live only in heathlands. In South Africa, the fynbos heathlands have even more — over 7,000 different plant types! That’s almost as many as in tropical rainforests.