This is a shrub introduced from Chile which thrives on the same sort of acid soils as ordinary heathers (Calluna vulgaris; Erica cinerea). No doubt grown as a garden or park plant, in the area where we saw it, it had successfully colonised the woodland and in this region could almost be considered invasive. The "Prickly" part of its English name refers to the sharp point at the ned of the leathery leaves.

It is found in the south and north west of England and in the far north west of Scotland including Skye. There are just a few sites in Wales and Ireland.