Heathers are a fantastic, low-cost, low-maintenance, evergreen plant, most of which are idea for groundcover. They are also an excellent choice for winter containers and hanging baskets. With a careful selection of varieties, a garden can have heathers in flower almost year-round. They are excellent for attracting bees.
PLANTING: Heathers will grow in full sun or semi-shaded areas but as a rule, the more sun they get, the more flower they will have. Golden foliage varieties produce their best colour in full sun.
When planting, make a hole sufficiently large to enable you to mix 50% composted bark with the soil and plant so the base of the foliage just nestles on the soil. Water immediately after planting.
SOIL: Heathers need a humus-rich, well-drained soil. Summer and autumn flowering heathers must be grown in a LIME-FREE soil, (Calluna vulgaris, Daboecia cantabrica) whilst Winter flowering heathers are LIME TOLERANT(Erica carnea, Erica x darleyensis).
CARE: Heathers are very low maintenance plants. Immediately after flowering, trim off all dead flower heads to the base of the flower. Feed in Spring with an ericaceous (lime-free) plant food. Heathers also benefit from mulching each Spring with fine bark or an ericaceous compost.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given both on our lists and labels. However, some details may vary according to special or geographical circumstances. Varieties offered are subject to availability.
