Pot trials and chemical analyses were carried out on wild specimens of Erica andevalensis Cabezudo et Rivera (Ericaceae) and their associated soils. Natural soils hosting E. andevalensis all had elevated copper concentrations. Pot trials showed that the Erica would grow in sulphide-ore substrates containing up to 12,500 μg g -1 (1.25%) copper, with or without amendment with EDTA. The addition of EDTA to these substrates increased the solubility of the copper to levels that killed other metal-tolerant species (Biscutella laevigata and Brassica juncea), but not E. andevalensis. The copper concentrations in wild plants were only 1 to 24 μg g -1 (dry weight) despite the high levels of copper (up to 3,676 μg g -1 ) in the supporting soils. In the pot trials, the plant was able partially to exclude total copper up to 1,000 μg g -1 in 1 Corresponding author. 1615