(Ernest) Charles Nelson (15 September 1951-20 May 2024) was a botanist who specialised in the heather family, Ericaceae, especially Erica, and whose past research interests included the Proteaceae especially Adenanthos.
Charles Nelson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland but the family lived in Enniskillen and he was educated at Portora Royal School, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in botany at the Aberystwyth University.
He then moved to Australia where he obtained a PhD from the Australian National University (Canberra) in 1975, for his studies into the taxonomy and ecology of Adenanthos.
He then returned to Ireland, taking up the position of horticultural taxonomist at the Irish National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin (Dublin).
On 3 December 2016, Nelson was one of three recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland's prestigious Medal of Honour; the co-recipients were Helen Dillon and Thomas Pakenham.