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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. |
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Cultivar |
Flower Color |
Time of |
Height and Width |
Foliage |
Winter Foliage |
Comments |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
|
Citzlers Rosa |
pink |
Feb-May |
bushy 12-18’ x 16-24: |
medium green |
|
new said to be similar to ‘Darley Dale’ order from drop down box above |
|
reddish purple |
Jan-May |
bushy |
medium green |
|
from Jim Cross |
|
|
shell to deep pink |
Sept-May |
bushy 15-18" x 36" |
medium green |
|
tough plant, a.k.a. ‘Med. Pink’ |
|
|
white |
Jan-May |
compact 18" x 20" |
medium green |
|
free flowering |
|
|
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 |
|
Furzey * + |
dark lilac pink |
Nov-May |
bushy 15" x 24" |
dark green |
pink tips in spring |
flowers very well |
|
pink-reddish purple |
Nov-May |
bushy 15" x 26" |
medium green |
red, pink cream |
flowers well |
|
|
pink-reddish purple |
Nov-May |
bushy 18" x 36" |
light green |
spring tips cream |
|
|
|
Goldrush * |
lilac pink |
Dec-May |
vigorous 18- 24” x 30” |
gold green |
green gold w/orange tints |
from Dave Wilson, B.C. |
|
soft salmon pink |
Dec-May |
floriferous 14” x 30” |
medium green |
|
from Dave Wilson, B.C. |
|
|
reddish purple |
Jan-May |
bushy 10" x 16" |
dark green |
cream red tips |
spring tips beautiful |
|
|
reddish purple |
Jan-May |
spreading 12" x 24" |
yellow all year |
orange tints |
flowers make for an interesting contrast |
|
|
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 |
|
Kramer's Rote * + |
magenta |
Jan-April |
bushy 15" x 24" |
dark green |
bronze |
Rote translates to Red |
|
lilac |
Jan-May |
bushy 8-10" x 18" |
medium green |
spring tips cream |
|
|
|
pink |
Feb-April |
bushy 10" x 18" |
yellow to gold |
bronze-maroon |
striking winter foliage |
|
|
deep pink |
Dec-April |
18” x 28” |
medium green |
|
rare |
|
|
white |
Dec-April |
bushy 12” x 18” |
medium green |
|
similar to ‘Silberschmelze’ blooms earlier |
|
|
ashen white |
Dec-May |
bushy 14” x 32” |
medium green |
spring tips cream |
a.k.a. ‘Med. White’ |
|
|
dark rose |
Mar-May |
broad upright 18” x 24” |
dark green |
|
free flowering |
|
|
pink to red purple |
Dec-Apr |
broad 8” x 20” |
dark green |
red spring tips |
more flowers than ‘Furzey’ |
|
|
white |
Dec-May |
bushy 10" x 20" |
medium green |
|
outstanding |
|
|
Perfection * + |
pure white |
Dec-April |
bushy 16" x 28" |
bright green |
|
highly rated long spikes |
|
white |
Mar-May |
16” x 24” |
medium green |
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