Richea alpina, known as short candleheath,[1] is a species of heath endemic to Tasmania, occurring in the mountains of the southwest.

It is morphologically similar to the hybrid species Richea curtisiae which usually occurs after disturbance in the west and central mountains.

The shorter upper bracts suddenly taper to an erect, acute point and are easily detached and shed early.

[3] Like most of the species in the genus Richea, R. alpina is endemic to Tasmania, and can be found in the mountains of the southwest, including the Frankland, Wilmot, Western and Eastern Arthur Ranges, and Mt Bobs.

[3] Menadue and Crowden (2000) first formally described R. alpina after examining flavonoid patterns in a taxonomic revision of the genus Richea.