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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
A lovely winter heath with pale pink flowers and orangey foliage
Strictly speaking, the term heath applies to ericas (Erica spp.) and heather to callunas
(Calluna vulgaris), also known as Scotch heather. In practice, however, the name heather
is used for both. There are more similarities than differences. They both belong to the heath
family (Ericaceae) and share color, form and growth habits. These well-mannered and lowmaintenance evergreens thrive in similar conditions. They enjoy an open sunny position and
well-drained acidic soil.
The densely populated heath genus contains more than 700 species. Its evergreen foliage
consists of needle-like, whorled leaves that are soft to the touch. Most are green, but there are
also blue, brown and gold variants. The small bell-shaped flowers usually appear in profusion
and can be white, pink, mauve, cerise, magenta or purple. Some heath cultivars produce
double or bi-colored blooms, and occasionally flowers are lightly scented.
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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
An unidentified Scotch heather cultivar in full bloom in September
Unlike the heaths, the heather genus (Calluna) contains only one species. There are,
however, more than 1,000 cultivars in existence. Amazingly, all of these variants have arisen
within the genetic boundaries of a single species (C. vulgaris). The heather’s upright, flexible
branches have tiny overlapping leaves borne in opposite pairs. They appear almost scalelike and are smaller than heath leaves. The evergreen foliage is covered with hairs that give
it a grey cast, although many cultivars demonstrate different colors including silver, lime,
chartreuse, primrose yellow or gold. Moreover, in cold months falling temperatures promote
radical foliage color changes. The winter palette of the Scotch heather varies from silver,
yellow, orange and bronze to shocking red. The exquisite urn-shaped flowers come in pure
white through pale pink to rosy purple, lavender and violet. Like the heaths, some heathers
produce double blooms.
An interesting relatively new introduction to Scotch heathers is the bud bloomers. This group
features flower buds that swell and color but never open to reveal the flowers. Paradoxically,
these closed blooms are as attractive as regular open blossoms. Their greatest advantage is
their extraordinarily prolonged flowering display.
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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
The hybrid heath (Erica x darleyensis ‘Silberschmelze’) features snow-white flowers.
Bridging the seasons with these plants is easier than it sounds but depends on the climatic
zone you live in. In milder areas with minimal snowfall, the New Year is greeted by the already
blooming hybrid heath (E. x darleyensis), which is considered one of the longest flowering.
Its most common cultivars, the white ‘Silberschmelze’ and the deep-pink ‘Furzey’, can start
flowering in November and continue until the end of April. By January, they can be joined by
the first winter heath (E. carnea) cultivars such as ‘Myretoun Ruby’ or ‘Pink Spangles’. (The
low-growing winter heath is considered the most cold-tolerant species.) They can be joined in
February by ‘Springwood White’ and ‘Springwood Pink’ respectively.
Apart from the winter blooms, heaths also offer glorious cold-season foliage. Hot oranges or
rich bronzes seem to be the most preferred colors. Particularly striking is the cultivar ‘Vivellii’
(E. carnea) with its deep-magenta flowers and winter-bronzed foliage. Although bloomless in
the winter, the true heathers (C. vulgaris) also have attractive, chameleon-like foliage. There
are many bright-orange tones found in numerous cultivars such as ‘Orange Queen’, ‘Roland
Haagen’ and ‘Sesam’. Vibrant red is also common; some outstanding examples include
‘Robert Chapman’, ‘Sunset’, ‘Firefly’, ‘Spitfire’ and ‘Sir John Charrington’.
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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
The brick-red winter foliage of the heather ‘Firefly’ pops against a snowy background.
By mid-spring when the winter display starts fading, the tree heath (E. arborea) enters the
stage with a profusion of honey-scented white flowers. This tender upright heath can reach
four meters, but its cultivars such as ‘Alpina’ or ‘Albert’s Gold’ are considerably shorter. In
the late spring, the Irish heath (E. erigena) takes center stage. Its blooms vary in color from
white to cheerful rose-red.
Summer belongs to two more heath species – the bell heath (E. cinerea) and the Dorset
heath (E. ciliaris). Although small, the wiry-stemmed bell heaths are considered some of the
flashiest. They are spectacular in bloom, at which time they are covered with hundreds of
flowers. A lovely example is ‘Velvet Night’, with its beetroot-colored blossoms. Although the
Dorset heath does not bloom quite as prolifically, its flowers are larger and have an interesting
pitcher shape. By the end of summer, the Cornish heath (E. vagans) is ready to take over. It
is also called the wandering heath because of its long ground-hugging branches. It makes a
good cutting flower.
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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
The last word, however, belongs to the common heather (C. vulgaris). The late-summer and
autumn choice of cultivars is enormous. Most flower in August and September, but some
early-bloomers, such as the white ‘Loch Turret’, blossom in June. On the other hand, late
bloomers can perform until January, depending on your zone. The list includes the mauve
‘Bronze Beauty’, lavender ‘Johnson’s Variety’ and amethyst ‘Hiemalis’ and ‘Finale’. There are
some cultivars that are particularly valued for their long-lasting flowers, notably the purple
‘Tib’, mauve ‘Foxii Floribunda’ and white ‘Alba Minor’. For enthusiasts of double blooms,
heathers offer the shell-pink ‘County Wicklow’, white ‘Kinlochruel’, lavender ‘Flore Pleno’ and
many more. The colorful heather foliage is in a class of its own. The winter color change is not
a rarity, but a norm.
Even light frost and snow can’t inhibit the blooming show of winter heath.
Heaths and heathers can be incorporated into an alpine bed or patio border, and the upright
ones are suitable for hedging. It is not necessary to create a bed exclusively for them. A
better effect is achieved with the addition of some companion plants, such as the birch tree
as a centerpiece and some dwarf conifers for their complementary foliage. To introduce
some height, add some small shrubs. Potentillas make good summer neighbors, and dwarf
cotoneasters or barberries (Berberis vulgaris) follow on into fall. Add a selection of different
cultivars of heath and heather and enjoy an ever-changing stunning display of foliage and
flowers.
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Bridging the Seasons with Heaths and Heathers
Gardening Newsletter
Vol. 10, Issue 9 - September 2015
Text and photos by Gina Dobrodzicka
Gina Dobrodzicka is a freelance writer and trained horticulturalist who volunteered with
Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton for five years. Currently, she volunteers with the
Vancouver Master Gardeners Chapter, the South Surrey Garden Club and Darts Hill Garden
Society. Her website is www.gdgardendesign.com.
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