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Shrubs

Erica lusitanica 'Le Vasterival'

Portugal heath 'Le Vasterival'

An upright, well-branched, shrub with evergreen, needle-like, dark green foliage to around 1.5m (5ft). From winter to early spring it bears an abudance of fragrant, bell-shaped, dusky pink flowers that fade to cream-white as they mature along the length of the branch ends.

Synonyms

Erica arborea 'Great Star'
Erica lusitanica Great Star

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ericaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Erica can be prostrate or erect, evergreen shrubs with fine, needle-like leaves in whorls, and racemes or panicles of small, bell-shaped or tubular flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun.

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in mid-to late autumn and by layering.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal diseases, including honey fungus (rarely), and Phytophthora root rot, in wet conditions

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