Heather, or Ling as it is also widely known, is the flower that turns moorlands and heaths purple in the late summer. It is a native woody shrub of acid soils frequenting heaths, moors, and bogs throughout the British Isles. It has been used for thatching, bedding, fuel, basketry, and as an orange dye. You can also find heather-flavoured beer for sale (VERY nice!). Grouse feed on its young shoots, and regular burning and grazing prevents the plants from becoming too woody. Finally, as well as purple, pink, and lilac flowers, there are also "lucky" white ones.

Flower: Tiny pink to purple, lilac or white bell-shaped four-petalled flowers 3-4 mm in length in little to big spikes.
Leaves: Linear, overlapping in opposite rows
Habitat: Moorland, heaths, bogs, acid soils
Height to about 60 cm
Typically flowering: August - September