About
Upright, open, evergreen shrub to about 1m high and 75cm wide, with tiny, needle-like, mid-green leaves. Very floriiferous, pink buds open to dense racemes of small, cylindrical to spherical white flowers, from late winter to late spring.
About the genus
Erica can be prostrate or erect, evergreen shrubs with fine, needle-like leaves in whorls, and racemes or panicles of small, bell-shaped or tubular flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationBest grown in neutal to acid well-drained soil in an open site with full sun but tolerant of mildy alkaline soils. Ideal for growing in containers in lime free (ericaceous) potting compost. See Hardy heathers and erica cultivation
PruningPruning group 10 after flowering
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings in mid or late summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to fungal diseases, including honey fungus (rarely), and Phytophthora root rot, in wet conditions