White Winter Heath
Erica x darleyensis 'Alba'
Height: 18 inches
Spread: 3 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Other Names: Snow Heath, Darley Heath
Description:
One of the more tolerant of the heaths, to soil and moisture conditions, this long flowering groundcover features snow white tubular flowers from fall to spring over dark green foliage, ideal for poor soils; also great for massing in the garden
Ornamental Features
White Winter Heath is covered in stunning spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late fall to early spring. It has dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The tiny needles remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
White Winter Heath is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
White Winter Heath is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
Planting & Growing
White Winter Heath will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
