Winter Heath
Erica carnea
Winter Heath is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or acid soil, flowering Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 25 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-7b, RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Not confirmed |
Where to use it in a border
At around 25 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 7b and rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, acid soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Winter Heath's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Hummingbird Sageto edge in front
- Oceansprayfor height behind it
- Fuchsia-Flowering Gooseberryfor height behind it
- Atamasco Rain Lilyto edge in front
- Black Sagefor height behind it
- Blue Mistflowerto edge in front
Garden styles
Coastal Wildlife garden Woodland
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: