Erica Carnea, or the winter heath, is a lovely low growing variety of heather, which offers colour to the garden through late winter until early spring. This popular sub shrub grows to a maximum of 12" high and quite wide with densely crowded branches, making it an excellent plant to use at the front of the border or as a groundcover. It will also add winter colour to any rock garden, between the bare branches of deciduous shrubs, or planted under deciduous trees.

Most heaths prefer full sun, well drained, neutral to acidic soil. Unlike most heaths which dislike lime, the Erica Carnea is quite tolerant of chalky or sweet soil, it infact thrives in sweet soil. It is very frost and salt tolerant, perfect for roadside or seaside plantings. To keep your winter heather bushy and compact give them an annual pruning, it is best to prune them immediately after flowering. As for feeding use a balanced fertilizer in the early spring, this will help the green foliage and flower buds develop, then in early fall give the Erica Carnea an application of rock dust or bone meal, this will increase winter hardiness and root structure. Since heather are not fond of composts or manure its best not to use them in the preparation of the soil or as part of a feeding program.

Heather may be grown in a container. A low growing container with a minimum width of 12" will work great. Planted up with early spring blooming bulbs, this make for an attractive early spring planter. The small bulbs look cute coming up through the foliage of the heather.

The bell shaped flowers of the winter heather come in shades of pink, purple or white. Mass planted they give a wonderful blast of colour to the garden when not much else is in bloom. If your looking for a shot of winter colour followed by summer green then the Erica Carnea is perfect for your garden!

Some varieties to look for:

Erica Carnea "December Red": Purplish pink flowers, starting as early as late December and continuing through early spring. Low growing and compact, this is an excellent performer. Wonderful colour.

Erica Carnea "Springwood White": Nice spreading habit, vigorous grower. White flowers during late winter, early spring, and lovely planted with early blooming spring bulbs.

Erica Carnea "Myretoun Ruby": Very dark green leaves set off the masses of bright rose pink flowers. Very contrasting.