Introducing...
Erica
Botanical name: Erica
Common name: Heath, heather
These small evergreen shrubs more than earn their keep, with long-lasting, colourful flower displays, often in winter when little else is in bloom. They are ideal for small gardens and containers or can be massed together in borders to create a tapestry of colours that change through the seasons. Tree heathers, on the other hand, form large shrubs, providing year-round structure and bee-friendly blooms.
Looks
Tiny bell-shaped or tubular flowers, in shades of pink, purple, red or white, smother these usually compact shrubs at various times of year, depending on the cultivar. The fine, needle-like, evergreen foliage provides yet more colour, in various shades of green or yellow, often tinged with copper.
Likes
They enjoy full sun or light shade, and a well-drained neutral to acidic soil. Mulch with leafmould or composted pine needles to keep the acidity up and improve the soil structure.
Dislikes
They do not grow well in shady locations, or in wet or chalky soils. They will not recover readily if pruned too hard into the older, woody stems.
Did you know?
Most ericas are heathland plants that like free-draining, acidic soil. However, there are a few that will tolerate moist, neutral to alkaline soils, such as Erica × darleyensis, E. carnea, E. vagans and E. erigena.
Growing guide
How to grow Erica
All the information you’ll need to grow and care for ericas in your garden.
Ericas we recommend
Erica carnea 'Rosalie'
heather 'Rosalie'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter'
heather 'J.W. Porter'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey'
heather 'Furzey'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Erica carnea 'Rosalie'
heather 'Rosalie'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Erica × darleyensis 'J.W. Porter'
heather 'J.W. Porter'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Erica × darleyensis 'Furzey'
heather 'Furzey'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
Acidifying soil
Containers: winter selection
Ground cover plants
Shrubs: evergreen by size
Shrubs: evergreen for specific situations
Shrubs: smaller for year round interest
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.