Spring Heath
- Scientific Name: Erica carnea
- Garden: Beneficial Insects and Compost Garden, Rain Garden
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
- Sun/Shade Exposure: Full Sun
- Moisture Requirements: Moist, Well-Drained
Plant Information
Erica - winter heather; Calluna - summer heather
Heathers are some of the best plants for year-round color. Indeed, there are so many kinds of heather that at least one is blooming each day of the year! Flowers are just the beginning of the story though, because foliage of Calluna, Daboecia and Erica—the species that make up Heaths and Heathers—is incredibly varied. Evergreen leaves can be deep green, but they can also be red, orange, yellow, blue or purple!
Flowers: Small bell-shape flowers can be white, pink, mauve, cerise, magenta or purple. Bloom-time varies per species.
Winter/Spring flowers: Erica carnea, Erica darleyensis.
Summer/Fall flowers: Erica cinerea, Erica griffithsii, Erica stuartii, Erica tetralix & Erica vegans
Foliage: Evergreen leaves look like tiny needles and can be green, gold or blue.
Size: Varies from ground-hugging 2”x18” to upright 24”x30”
Culture: Sun, acidic, well-drained moist soil. Soils west of the cascades are acidic due to copious rain, but often drainage is a problem, so adding compost when planting helps. Callunas are tolerant to drought once established.
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5
Problems: Very few. Over watering and dense heavy soils can cause plants to rot or lose foliage in the center. Bugs and diseases are rare in Portland
