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skill rating
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Erica carnea (Heather)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Erica carnea
Other names
Heather, Winter heath , Alpine heath, Erica herbacea
Genus
Erica Erica
Species
E. carnea - E. carnea is a compact, spreading, evergreen shrub with linear, dark green leaves and one-sided racemes of narrowly urn-shaped, purple-pink flowers in late winter and early spring.
Erica carnea is: Evergreen
Habit
Compact, Spreading
Flower
Magenta in Spring; Magenta in Winter
Foliage
Mid-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
May be subject to fungal diseases.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 10
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Erica carnea (Heather) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, City, Coastal, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Garden edging, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil in full sun. Tolerates slightly alkaline soil.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Erica carnea
Other names
Heather, Winter heath , Alpine heath, Erica herbacea
Genus
Erica Erica
Species
E. carnea - E. carnea is a compact, spreading, evergreen shrub with linear, dark green leaves and one-sided racemes of narrowly urn-shaped, purple-pink flowers in late winter and early spring.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Compact, Spreading
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Colour
Flower
Magenta in Spring; Magenta in Winter
Foliage
Mid-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
May be subject to fungal diseases.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 10
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Erica carnea (Heather) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, City, Coastal, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Garden edging, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil in full sun. Tolerates slightly alkaline soil.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 6, Zone 5
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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Shoot member Phil Murray takes advantage of extra time during the lockdown to give his WIndermere garden a haircut, and gets 10 builders bags of chippings in the process! read more
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