Erica x darleyensis includes many hybrids of Erica carnea and  Erica erigena and is one of the easiest of all heathers to grow.  It is suitable for almost any soil, needs very little pruning and is useful for smothering weeds.  E. x darleyensis are the ironclads of the heaths.  These plants are generally more bushy and are quite a bit taller than the carpeting  Erica carnea, so keep this in mind when ordering.  Some people want flat carpeters, and others want the bushier taller type.  Most varieties have pink or cream tips of new growth in spring and bronze foliage in the winter.  Buds form in late summer or very early fall, and some cultivars begin blooming as early as late September, often lasting until May.  The flowers open pale and deepen as the season progresses.  Prune when young when finished blooming in May to create a bushier plant.  Zones 5 (-20 degrees) and warmer.

Cultivar

Flower Color

Time of
Bloom

Height and Width
in approx. 4 yrs

Foliage

Winter

Foliage

Comments

Ada S. Collings *

white

Dec-May

compact 8" x 20"

dark green

cream tips spring

began last Sept for us

Alba *

white

Oct-May

bushy 15-18" x 36"

medium green

 

long flowering

Alice *

large red

Jan-Apr

bushy 18” x 24”

dark green

 

 

Archie Graham *

pink/red purple

Dec-April

bushy 20" x 24"

medium green

 

 

Arthur Johnson * +

pink-reddish purple

Nov-May

open bush 18" x 30"

medium green

cream tips spring

 

Beacon Hill *

large white

Jan-Apr

bushy 18” x 24”

medium green

 

 

Citzler’s Rosa *

rose pink

Feb-May

bushy 12-18’ x 16-24:

medium green

 

last darleyensis in bloom—useful for that

Coral Bells *

pink

Jan-Apr

bushy 18” x 24”

dark green

 

 

Cross’s Puzzle *

reddish purple

Jan-May

bushy

medium green

 

from Jim Cross—rare

Darley Dale * (MED. PINK)

shell to deep pink

Sept-May

bushy 15-18" x 36"

medium green

 

tough plant, a.k.a. ‘Med. Pink’

Dunreggan *

white

Jan-May

compact 18" x 20"

medium green

 

free flowering

Emmy

Lilac

Jan-May

Bushy 10” x 24”

green gold

orange

sport from ‘Jenny Porter’ named for Emmy Plomski

 Epe *

lilac

Jan-May

12” x 24”

medium green

spring tips cream

rare

Erecta *

lilac pink

Jan-May

broad upright

12” x 24”

medium green

 

rare

Eva Gold

Magenta

Jan-May

12” x 20”

gold green

 

sport of  ‘Kramer’s Rote’

Furzey * +

dark lilac pink

Nov-May

bushy 15" x 24"

dark green

pink tips in spring

flowers very well

George Rendall *

pink-reddish purple

Nov-May

bushy 15" x 26"

medium green

red, pink cream
tips in spring

flowers well

Ghost Hills +

pink-reddish purple

Nov-May

bushy 18" x 36"

light green

spring tips cream

 

Golden Perfect *

white

Nov-May

compact spreading 16" x 28"

pure yellow

yellow green

does not sunburn, sport of 'White Perfection'

Goldrush *

lilac pink

Dec-May

vigorous

18- 24” x 30”

gold green

green gold w/orange tints

from Dave Wilson, B.C.

Irish Treasure *

soft salmon pink

Dec-May

floriferous  14” x 30”

medium green

 

from Dave Wilson, B.C., cross between ‘Irish Dusk’ and ‘Treasure Trove’

J.W. Porter + *

reddish purple

Jan-May

bushy 10" x 16"

dark green

cream red tips

spring tips beautiful

Jack H. Brummage *

reddish purple

Jan-May

spreading 12" x 24"

yellow all year

orange tints

flowers make for an interesting contrast

James Smith *

deep pink to reddish purple

Dec-April

compact 12" x 22"

medium green

tipped pink and cream in spring

 

Jenny Porter * +

lilac

Jan-May

spreading 10" x 24"

medium green

spring tips cream

vigorous

Katia *

large pure white

Nov-May

bushy 14” x 32”

medium green

spring tips cream

sport of  ‘Silberschmelze’

Kramers Rote * +

magenta

Jan-April

bushy 15" x 24"

dark green

bronze

Rote translates to Red

Lena *

large magenta

Jan-April

broad upright

18” x 24”

dark bronze green

 

sport of ‘Kramer’s Rote’

Lucie *

large magenta

Jan-April

broad upright

18” x 24”

dark bronze green

 

sport of ‘Kramer’s Rote’

Lyra *

shell pink

Dec-May

broad compact

12” x 36”

medium green

 

seedling found at Heaths & Heathers—floriferous and soft color

Margaret Porter *

lilac

Jan-May

bushy 8-10" x 18"

medium green

spring tips cream

 

Mary Helen *

pink

Feb-April

bushy 10" x 18"

yellow to gold

bronze-maroon

striking winter foliage

Mrs. Parris’ Red *

deep pink

Dec-April

18” x 28”

medium green

 

rare

N. R. Webster *

white

Dec-April

bushy 12” x 18”

medium green

 

similar to ‘Silberschmelze’ blooms earlier

Perfect Polly *

large white

Dec-April

bushy 16" x 28"

bright green

 

sport of ‘White Perfection’ from Ken Hutchins

Phoebe *

salmon

Sept-Mar

compact bushy

18-20” x 20-24”

medium green

 

 

Pink Harmony

Pink

Dec-May

bushy

20” x 20”

medium green

 

 

Pretty Polly

large lilac pink

Nov-May

bushy 15" x 24"

dark green

 

from Ken Hutchins, Mossyrock, WA

Rubina

cool purple

Jan-Mar

13” x 24”

dark green

 

 

Silberschmelze * (MED. WHITE)

ashen white

Dec-May

bushy 14” x 32”

medium green

spring tips cream

a.k.a. ‘Med. White’

Spring Surprise *

dark rose

Mar-May

broad upright

18” x 24”

dark green

 

free flowering

Tweety *

magenta

Nov-April

broad spreading 12" x 18"

bright gold

orange tints

sport of 'Kramer's Rote', does not bloom as well

W.G. Pine *

pink to

red purple

Dec-Apr

broad 8” x 20”

dark green

red spring tips

more flowers than ‘Furzey’

White Glow *

white

Dec-May

bushy 10" x 20"

medium green

 

outstanding

White

Perfection * +

pure white

Dec-April

bushy 16" x 28"

bright green

 

highly rated long spikes

White Spring Surprise *

white

Mar-May

16” x 24”

medium green

 

 

Winter Surprise *

large rose

Nov-April

14” x 24”

dark green

 

 

Winter Treasure *

salmon pink

Nov-May

24” x 36”

dark green

 

from Dave Wilson, B.C., cross between ‘Irish Dusk’ and ‘Treasure Trove’