Since my early childhood outings to Dartmoor, I have always had a soft spot for the humble heather. Throughout Britain, in places where most plants will struggle to survive, there are patches of these hardy low growing evergreen shrubs. A real national treasure.
Heathers will flower at all times of the year and are prized for their long blooming winter flowering varieties. They come in all different colours (Red, Pink, Purple, White, Silver etc) and forms (in colours of green, bronze, gold, orange and red) and require different growing conditions.
Looking after your Heather
Most Heather varieties prefer a well drained acidic soil. Heavy, limy (Alkaline) soil can be a sure way of killing off your plants, so if this is the case, try either replacing your soil with an ericaceous compost (drastic!), or plant in tubs using a peat substitute (recommended).
Lime tolerant Heather varieties
Certain varieties aren’t as fussy when it comes to the PH level (acidity) of your soil. Most people reading this post will most likely have an alkaline soil as opposed to an acid soil in their garden. If your not sure, you can purchase acid testing kits from your local garden centre. If you are one of these people, here are some heathers that you may want to try:
- Erica carnea
- Erica manipuliflora
- Erica erigena
When planting your heather, ensure a gap of about 2 foot between plants. For the best results, don’t regiment your plants – they are natural beauties, so try scattering them across a ‘heath’ garden.