Erica arborea

Tree Heath
Ericaceae
Evergreen, Shrubs, Trees, Flowers

ERICA

Heaths are grown for small, needlelike leaves and abundant, usually small flowers that may be bell shaped, urn shaped, or tubular. By choosing varieties of both heaths and their close relative heather (Calluna) carefully, you can have color year-round.

The hardiest heaths, native to northern and western Europe, are widely used as shrubs or ground cover plants in cool-summer, humid regions of California and the Pacific Northwest. Fanciers sometimes plant the shortest types in masses for a multicolored Persian-carpet effect. Good on slopes.

South African species are tender to frost and about as hardy as fuchsias; where temperatures dip below 28°F/°2°C, it is safest to grow them in containers and provide shelter.

A third group of heaths, native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe, is intermediate in hardiness.

Taller heaths can be used as screens. All attract bees.

Heaths demand excellent drainage, and most need acid soil. Sandy soil amended with organic matter such as peat moss and compost is ideal; heavy clay is usually fatal. Feeding with an annual sifting of compost is usually sufficient, but if plants lose color, feed lightly with acid plant food in early spring. When it comes to watering, be careful and consistent. Heaths will not tolerate standing water or absolute dryness. To keep plants looking neat, shear or cut off faded flower spikes. Don°t cut back into leafless wood; new growth may not resprout.

Erica arborea

This upright, dense shrub or tree can grow 10–20 ft. tall, 8–10 ft. wide, with one or many trunks, and often a heavy burl at the plant's base. It is slow growing. Performs well in Zones 4–6 in years between big freezes. Burls are the "briar" used for making pipes. Foliage is bright green; new growth is lighter green. White, fragrant, flowers appear in spring.

Alpina

This makes a dense, upright shrub to 6 ft. tall and 3–4 ft. wide. Foliage is bright green; new growth lighter green. The plant is slow to reach blooming age, but is then free blooming. It is slightly hardier than E. arborea.