Grow Heaths and Heathers for Year-Round Beauty

These evergreens are always gorgeous, and they only need a little help from you

I often try folks say that they hate heaths ( Ericaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) and heathers ( Callunavulgarisand CV . , Zones 5–8 ) , their earlier blossom cousins . The most common complaints are the woody , long-shanked shape they develop ( mostly after years of neglect ) and how they outgrow the infinite they ’ve been provided rather quick . The same people who sound off about heaths and heathers admit they have no noesis of how to care for them(Learn all about caring for heaths and heather here ) . But while these plant do need certain condition and annual care , they are not divas .

Thesedeer - resistantand salt - resistant evergreens create a beautiful tapestry for every season , with a wide change of colored foliation and little bell - shape flowers that range from white to deep pinks and purples . They are also an attractive , evergreen ground coverthat excels at shading out weed .

heathland render that winter pop of brilliant semblance when few other plant are in bloom . I like to utilize them in ribbons throughout the garden whenever possible , which creates more stake and can make a garden seem a plenty larger .

Heathers provide any garden with a good time of glowing colors from late leaping into midsummer . They also display sensational winter foliage colors of yellowish green , coppery orangeness , and burgundy . See below for some of my preferred options .

Heaths that shine in winter

‘Springwood Pink’ heath

For a winter border , the hand - down favorite is ‘ Springwood Pink ’ heathland ( Erica carnea‘Springwood Pink ’ , zone 4–8 ) , with its brilliant pink blooms that last from January until May . At a mature height of 6 inch and a spreadhead of around 16 inches , ‘ Springwood Heath ’ is a unadulterated alternative to trace the edges of paths and driveways .

‘Furzey’ Darley Dale heath

‘ Furzey ’ Darley Dale heath ( Erica×darleyensis‘Furzey ’ , Zones 7–8 ) is dear for a more mature landscape painting . It has that honest-to-goodness - fashioned , traditional heath tone about it . It fills in quickly , frisk lilac flowers with dark purple tips in later winter and on into saltation . Growing up to 2 feet high and wide , ‘ Furzey ’ is on the orotund size if it ’s left to mature in a background .

Heath ‘ Furzey’ . Photo : Jerry Pavia

‘Mary Helen’ Darley Dale heath

‘ Mary Helen ’ Darley Dale heath ( Erica×darleyensis‘Mary Helen ’ , Zones 7–8 ) has lavender rosiness , but it ’s the bronze - to - atomic number 79 leafage that makes it a consummate , all - season winner . It wo n’t quite reach a foot tall , but it will spread up to 18 inches . This coinage of heathland is more tolerant of summer humidness and can handle a Zone 6 winter with right trade protection ( see sidebar , facing page ) .

‘Kramer’s Rote’ Darley Dale heath

If you ’re bet for oculus - see wintertime color , then ‘ Kramer ’s Rote ’ Darley Dale heath ( Erica×darleyensis‘Kramer ’s Rote ’ , Zones 7–8 ) is the one for you . It has the darkest , deep purple - Bolshevik of them all . It grows quickly to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide . Because the people of colour is so strong , it is best used in groups ; otherwise , it will depend like polka dots .

Heathers are the stars of summer

For a summer splash of brilliant color , heather often slip the show in any garden . For a big variety with some serious drama , I choose ‘ Firefly ’ . In springtime , this plant has vivid chartreuse and primrose golden leafage that goes perfectly with my Magic Carpet spirea ( Spiraea japonica*‘Walbuma ’ , Zones 4–9 ) . Late summertime brings beautiful mauve flower . carry this heather to farm to around 18 in tall and full .

‘Wickwar Flame’

For a much shorter variety in the same people of colour palette , try ‘ Wickwar Flame ’ , which provides a burst of bright prosperous yellow and orangish leaf with burgundy tips in summer . The tiny purple flowers are a bonus .

‘ Wickwar Flame’Photo : Josh Glover

‘Winter Chocolate’

My new favourite — and my garden is full of it now — is ‘ Winter Chocolate ’ , which has foliage that deepen colors from bright orange with burgundy tips in wintertime into rich gold in summer . It appears to be develop very tardily , however . Eventually it will attain around 8 inches marvelous , with a width about twice that .

‘Spring Torch’

Another favorite is ‘ Spring Torch ’ , with its deep lilac blooms and fat , emerald green foliation . This color makes it good for rug . It originate 12 to 18 column inch tall and up to 2 feet wide . It is slow to spread and easy to shear .

‘Blazeaway’

‘ Blazeaway ’ is a behind - growing heather with a thick matt facial expression . It gets 12 to 18 in tall and wide and has lovely pinkish stem with lilac flowers in summertime and fond , copper - colored foliation in wintertime . imbed it in groups for the best show .

‘Silver Knight’

For a more elegant and subtle presentation , try out ‘ Silver Knight ’ . It has frosty , silver - color foliage and soft , lavender efflorescence . With an good habit , this Scots heather is well behaved , gain 16 in tall and just a bit wider .

| Design |

Putting heaths and heathers to work

Because these flora extend such firm color , they are extremely versatile intent tools . My favored use of goods and services is planting them in groupings . I think of using a panoptic thicket stroke , with three , seven , or nine plants at a fourth dimension in swaths . This make a carpet outcome when they all knit together .

Heaths and heathers provide year - one shot interest and coverage that ’s excellent for suppressing weeds . Be sure to translate the tatter , and leave enough room for the plants so that when they reach adulthood they will not be overcrowded . design a way in and out of your garden layer so that you will be able to shear your heather after the blooms commence to fade without stepping on them . you could hide out way between your plants .

*Invasive alert: Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)

This industrial plant is consider invading in GA , IN , KY , PA , and TN .

Please visitinvasiveplantatlas.orgfor more selective information .

Stacie Crooks is a landscape designer in Seattle .

Photos , except where noted : David Perry

Sources :

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