HEATHERS Erica
Commonly known as Irish heath, Mediterranean heath
A shrub to bring a moorland character to your garden.
Genus of more than 800 species of evergreen trees, shrubs and subshrubs from a variety of habitats from wet moorland to dry heathland in Europe, western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, northern Africa, Macaronesia, montane habitats in tropical Africa and especially temperate southern Africa (Cape heaths). They often dominate heathland and moorland and this is mirrored in miniature with their ground-covering characteristics in garden planting.
E.carnea, Alpine or Winter heath flowers from winter to mid spring, cinerea, bell heather from early summer to early autumn, vagans, Cornish heath, from midsummer to mid-autumn and x darleyensis, a particularly useful groundcover, from late autumn through winter to early spring. All are an excellent source of nectar for bees.
Native ericas are E. ciliaris, Dorset heath found also in Devon, Cornwall and the west of Ireland, E. cinerea, Bell heather, common on the drier areas of moorland and tetralix, Cross-leaved heath. common except for the Midlands. E. vagans, in the wild, is found on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.
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Evergreen - linear, dark-green leaves.
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Height - to 2.5m (8ft) -
Spread - to 1m (3ft)
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Medium shrub - Typically grow to around 4-6 feet in height - upright shrub with brittle stems. Urn-shaped to cylindrical flowers 5mm (¼in) long in racemes 4cm (1½in) long
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Full sun -
Additional Features - Good to know - - wildlife plant - insects. Makes a good hedge in areas with little snowfall. Fills the gap between winter and summer flowering heaths. -
Pests & Diseases - fungal attack from Phytophthora, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia in warm, wet conditions. -
Place of origin - Ireland, southwestern France, Spain, Portugal, Tangier. -
Resistant to honey fungus - These plants have little or few problems with honey fungus.
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Soil Conditions - Tolerates all - - any well-drained soil
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Wildlife - Bee friendly -
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to 2.5m (8ft)
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to 1m (3ft) |
Buy Varieties of HEATHERS Erica
HEATHERS Erica arborea 'Albert's Gold' >
Commonly known as: Tree heath.
HEATHERS Erica arborea 'Estrella Gold' >
Commonly known as: Tree heath.
HEATHERS Erica canaliculata >
Commonly known as: Cape heath, Channelled heath.
HEATHERS Erica carnea 'Ann Sparkes' >
Commonly known as: Alpine heath, Winter heath.
HEATHERS Erica carnea 'Foxhollow' >
Commonly known as: Alpine heath, Winter heath.
HEATHERS Erica carnea 'Pink Spangles' >
Commonly known as: Alpine heath, Winter heath.
HEATHERS Erica cinerea 'Katinka' >
Commonly known as: Bell heather, Grey heath.
HEATHERS Erica x darleyensis 'Eva Gold' >
Commonly known as: Darley Dale heath.
HEATHERS Erica x darleyensis 'Kramer's Red' >
Commonly known as: Darley Dale heath.
HEATHERS Erica x darleyensis 'White Perfection' >
Commonly known as: Darley Dale heath.
HEATHERS Erica erigena 'Irish Dusk' >
Commonly known as: Irish heath, Mediterranean heath.
HEATHERS Erica erigena 'W.T. Rackliff' >
Commonly known as: Irish heath, Mediterranean heath.
