Thursday, March 10, 2022

Heaths and Heathers Plant Profile

 

Heaths and Heathers Plant Profile

Heaths (Ericas) and heathers (Callunas) are members of the Ericaceae family. They are evergreen, with bell-like flowers, and share similar cultural needs. Winter-blooming heathers, the Ericas, are called heaths. The Heaths have needle-like leaves in whorls, while the Heathers have scale-like leaves, similar to junipers.

The flower colors range from white through light pink, into deep pinks, reds, and purples. The foliage comes in a wide range of green and bronze tones. They do well in rock gardens and on slopes. They are often used in groupings as a ground cover as well as a small specimen shrub at the front of a border or in containers.

They prefer acid soils like their relatives in the Ericaceae family -- the rhododendrons, azaleas, and blueberries. They are generally hardy to USDA Zones 4-7.

The best time to plant them is in early spring or fall to give them plenty of time to get established before the extreme heat or cold sets in. Water them well for their first year and keep them mulched. They are fairly drought-tolerant once established and do not require fertilizer.

Winter-blooming heaths need four things: good air circulation, excellent drainage, acid soil (a pH range of 4.5-6), and at least six hours of sun. They also like protection from drying winter winds and afternoon shade in hot regions.  

Heaths and Heathers can be found all over the world, except Antarctica. The Ericas we grow in our gardens come mainly from Western Europe and the Mediterranean.

Heaths and Heathers look great combined in the landscape with Witch Hazels, dwarf conifers, Crocus, Daffodils, Winter Aconite, Hellebores, and Snowdrops.

Prune just as this year’s flowers are ending and sheer them back all over for a fuller, more compact look. Cutting back at a later time results in the loss of blooms.

Heaths and Heathers are considered deer-resistant. They are loved by bees and are a great source of nectar in late winter.

Heaths and Heathers : You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Hojung Ryu

 

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