Heathers bring us welcome colour
Windswept gardens can easily be brightened up in winter
Recent storm conditions proved again the worth of dwarf ornamental plants in a windswept garden, and currently it’s the winter heather (Erica carnea) varieties that are shining through what is ostensibly the most depressing part of the year.
Small group plantings of winter heaths in a variety of colours illuminate parts of the garden.
They are totally hardy and have a flowering period that extends from late December until April. Better still, it only takes a mild January day to find them buzzing with earlyforaging bee activity; bumblers large and small, but most notably the hive-dwelling Apis mellifera.
Cultivars ‘Springwood
White’ and ‘Springwood Pink’ predominate this gorgeous display because they are strong growers and very floriferous. In maturity they remain below 20 centimetres in height, but their lateral growth is more vigorous. This ground covering capacity is to our advantage, blocking out most weed development.
Nor are we overworked in terms of maintenance. They are pruned immediately after flowering by removing the spent blooms with a small amount of young growth attached, and a mulch of composted garden debris is applied by lifting the ground-hugging branches and tucking it under each plant.
Given a careful choice of heather species, it’s possible to have a spot of colour throughout the year, not only from the flowers but also attractive foliage.
At present Erica carneas that are adorning the garden will continue according to variety, until late spring. There are a host of Erica cineria cultivars that bloom from June to September and cultivated varieties of the moorland heather (Calluna vulgaris) take us from throughout summer and beyond.
I’ve always found the callunas irresistible, especially varieties with long spikes of double pink flowers, such as ‘H.E.Beale.’ They’re ideal for petite vase arrangements.
There are several ways to propagate heathers. A mature clump can be divided into sections, but the resulting plants lack shape. Layering, by pegging the low stems to ground, works better. Raising from seed is possible but rooting from stem cuttings is best. Select soft young shoots with a heel attached during July or August. Bed them into pots gritty compost and place in a cold frame outdoors. Where they will root.
This is a good time to buy and plant young pot-grown specimens in an outdoor border. Tease any tightly packed roots apart and keep 30 centimetres distance between each specimen.