The heather family (Ericaceae) is very extensive with around 120 different genera and over 4000 species. In this country, many representatives are cultivated in the gardens, but the summer heather or common heather as well as the snow heather or winter heather are particularly important.

The colors of heather vary from white to pink to dark red, depending on the variety

Various heather plants

The table below shows some of the most interesting heather plants for domestic gardens.

Heather - Art German designation growth habit growth height blossom heyday
Andromeda polifolia rosemary heath compact about 20 to 30 cm mostly pink or white May to August
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Real bearberry creeping up to 50 cm pink white March to June
Erica spiculifolia moorland dwarf shrub up to 20 cm white, red, pink, violet June to August
Cassiope scale heather dwarf shrub up to approx. 50 cm White May
emptrum nigrum Black Crowberry prostrate up to 25 cm purple pink May
Erica arborea tree heath dwarf shrub up to 100 cm White April to May
Gaultheria miqueliana checkerberry low up to 30 cm White June to July
Gautheria procumbens Prostrate checkerberry carpeting up to 15 cm light pink July to August
Gaultheria shallon Big checkerberry shrub up to 60 cm white or red June to July
Ledum palustre marsh tea shrub up to 100 cm White May to June
Linnaea borealis Mossbells creeping up to 20 cm pink June to August
Phyllodoce empetriformis moss heath shrub up to 20 cm light pink May to June
Vaccinium blueberries upright or creeping up to 50 cm white or pink May to June
Calluna vulgaris heather upright or creeping up to approx. 50 cm different July to November
Erica carnea snow heath upright or creeping up to approx. 20 cm different December to April

Varieties of winter or snow heather

The different varieties of winter or snow heather are of great importance, especially for autumn and winter culture on the balcony and terrace.

Erica carnea - cultivar growth habit growth height leaves flower color heyday
Alba cushion-like up to 20 cm dark green White February - May
Atroruba cushion-like up to 20 cm dark green Red March April
challengers cushioning up to 25 cm grey-green Red January - April
December Red clump-forming up to 25 cm dark green deep pink December - March
Eve compact up to 20 cm dark green light pink February March
Foxhollow relaxed up to 20 cm yellow-green light pink February - May
Golden Starlet compact up to 15 cm yellow-green White March April
Isabel flat up to 20 cm dark green White February - April
March Seeding upright up to 25 cm dark green pink February - May
Natalie compact up to 20 cm dark green Red February - April
Rosalie flat up to 20 cm dark green pink March April
ruby fire bushy up to 20 cm dark green strong pink January - April

Summer or common heather

The different varieties of the popular common heather are also very well suited for cultivation in planters as well as in (stone) gardens.

Calluna vulgaris - cultivar growth habit growth height leaves flower color heyday
Allegro upright up to 45 cm dark green purple August to September
Annabel upright up to 30 cm grey-green dark pink August to October
boskoop upright up to 30 cm yellow-green violet August to September
County Wicklow low up to 30 cm light green pink August to September
darkness upright up to 30 cm soft green Red August to October
David Hagenaars upright up to 40 cm bright yellow pink August - October
Elsie Purnell upright up to 40 cm silvery grey light pink August to October
gold haze compact up to 30 cm light yellow White August to September
Hammondii upright up to 40 cm light green White August to September
J.H. Hamilton wide up to 20 cm dark green salmon pink August to October
Jana upright up to 30 cm grey-green Red September to November
Silver Knight upright up to 40 cm silver grey lilacpink August to October
Zoro upright about 30 cm yellow none none
Velvet Fascination upright about 50 cm silver grey White August to October

tips

Whichever heather you prefer, they all need well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

Category:

Herbs