Bell heather
Erica cinerea
Bell heather is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun and sandy soil or acid soil, flowering Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-8b, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Not confirmed |
Where to use it in a border
At around 30 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 8b and rated H7 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 Bell heather'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:
- California Lilac 'Ray Hartman'for height behind it
- California Lilac 'Skylark'for height behind it
- Cleveland Sage 'Allen Chickering'for height behind it
- Dwarf Yaupon Hollyfor height behind it
- Florida Tickseedto edge in front
- Foothill Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'to edge in front