HEATHER EVERGREEN SHRUB
COMPARISON
GALLERY PAGES

(o) in front of Page Name or Index Page No in this Main Menu Table indicates that all pages linked to from that cell have content.

Site Map

Introduction

Index Page No.

Index Page No.

Click on Colour below to change to its Heather Flower Colour Page with Flower and Flower Stalk

FLOWERING SEASON
with Flower and Flower Stalk

CULTIVAR GROUP
with Flowers

(o) H0
White

Index Page No.

(o) H1 Amethyst

Index Page No.

H2
Mauve

Index Page No.

(o) January
Winter

(o)
1 2

Andromeda

(o) 1

(o) 1

(o) 1

1

(o) February
Winter

(o)
1 2

Bruckenthalia spiculifolia changed to
Erica spiculifolia

1

(o) H3
Lavender

(o) 1

H4
Lilac

1

H5
Ruby

1

(o) March
Spring

(o)
1 2

(o) Calluna
and
Calluna Gallery

(o) 1

(o) April
Spring

(o)
1 2

(o) Daboecia
and
Daboecia Gallery

(o) 1

H6
Cerise

1

(o) H7
Rose Pink

(o) 1

(o) H8
Pink

(o) 1

(o) May
Spring

(o) 1

Erica Others Gallery
and
Erica Hardy Heaths:-
 

(o) June
Summer

(o) 1

Erica x afroeuropea

(o) 1

(o) H9
Beetroot

(o) 1

(o) H10
Purple

(o) 1

(o) H11
Lilac Pink

(o) 1

(o) July
Summer

(o) 1

Erica andevalensis now treated as Erica mackayana ssp andevalensis

1

(o) August
Summer

(o) 1

(o) Erica arborea

(o) 1

(o) H12 Heliotrope

(o) 1

H13 Crimson

1

(o) H14 Magenta

(o) 1

(o) September
Autumn

(o) 1

(o) Erica x arendsiana

(o) 1

(o) October
Autumn

(o) 1

(o) Erica australis

(o) 1

H15 Salmon

1

(o) H16
Shell Pink

(o) 1

(o) H17 Multi-Coloured

(o) 1

(o) November
Autumn

(o) 1

(o) Erica azorica
(Syn.
Erica scoparia subsp. azorica)

(o) 1

(o) December
Winter

(o) 1

(o) Erica carnea
and
Carnea Gallery

(o)
1 2

(o) Erica ciliaris

(o) 1

(o) COMMENTS

SPRING FOLIAGE COLOUR
with Foliage Stalk and Form

(o) Erica cinerea
and
Cinerea Gallery

(o) 1

Spr-Bronze

1

(o) Erica x darleyensis

(o) 1

Heather Height from Text Border

(o) Spr-Green

(o) 1

(o) Erica erigena

(o) 1

Spr-Grey

1

Erica garforthensis

(o) 1

Purple = up to 4 inches (10cm)

Orange = up to 6 inches (15cm)

Violet = up to 8 inches (20cm)

(o) Spr-Orange

(o) 1

Erica gaudificans

(o) 1

Spr-Red

1

(o) Erica x griffithsii

(o) 1

(o) Spr-Yellow

(o) 1

Erica krameri

(o) 1

(o) Spr-Other Colour

(o) 1

(o) Erica lusitanica

(o) 1

Brown = up to 10 inches (25cm)

Blue = up to 12 inches (30cm)

Green = up to 14 inches (35cm)

(o) Erica mackayana

(o) 1

SUMMER FOLIAGE COLOUR
with Foliage Stalk and Form

Erica maderensis

(o) 1

(o) Sum-Bronze

(o) 1

(0) Erica manipuliflora

(o) 1

(o) Sum-Green

(o)
1 2

Erica multiflora

1

Magenta = up to 16 inches (40cm)

Red = up to 18 inches (45cm)

Black = over 18 inches (45cm)

Sum-Grey

1

(o) Erica
oldenburgensis

(o) 1

Sum-Orange

1

Erica platycodon

1

Sum-Red

1

Erica scoparia

1

(o) Sum-Yellow

(o) 1

Erica sicula

1

Sum-Other Colour

1

(o) Erica spiculifolia

(o) 1

Heather Soil Moisture from Text Background

(o) Erica stuartii

(o) 1

AUTUMN FOLIAGE COLOUR
with Foliage Stalk and Form

Erica terminalis

1

Wet Soil

Moist Soil

Dry Soil

(o) Aut-Bronze

(o) 1

Erica tetralix

1

(o) Aut-Green

(o)
1 2

Erica umbellata

1

(o) Aut-Grey

(o) 1

Erica vagans

1

Aut-Orange

1

Erica veitchii

1

Aut-Red

1

Erica watsonii

1

Click on thumbnail to change to the Plant Description Page of the Heather named in the Text box below that photo.
The Comments Row of that Plant Description Page details where that heather is available from.
Flowering months append the Sun Aspect in the Text Box below each Thumbnail.

(o) Aut-Yellow

(o) 1

Erica williamsii

1

Aut-Other Colour

1

WINTER FOLIAGE COLOUR
with Foliage Stalk and Form

SEED COLOUR

(o) Win-Bronze

(o) 1

Seed

1

(o) Win-Green

(o)
1 2

"Handy Guide to Heathers - Descriptions & Suppliers of over 1000 varieties" by David & Anne Small. Published in 1992 by Denbeigh Heather Nurseries in the UK. ISBN 0-9519160-0-9.
It provides a handy reference to descriptions of heathers in the genera Andromeda, Bruckenthalia, Calluna, Daboecia and Erica which are commercially cultivated in Britain, Europe and North America. The information has very largely come from the work of the Heather Society on producing an International Register of all heather names irrespective of whether they are in commercial use or not.

Win-Grey

1

BED PICTURES

(o) Win-Orange

(o) 1

Garden

1

(o) Win-Red

(o) 1

(o) Win-Yellow

(o) 1

Website Structure Explanation and
User Guidelines

(o) Win-Other Colour

(o) 1

Some heathers besides having flowers have foliage colours that change from 1 season to the next season in the UK -

• Spring (March, April, May),
• Summer (June, July, August),
• Autumn (September, October, November) and
• Winter (December, January, February).

This Comparison Gallery provides comparison pages of the:-

• 18 flower colours with flower and flower stalk as shown in the menu table above,
• 18 flower colours with flower and flower stalk in each of the months that heather flowers,
• 7 foliage colours with foliage stalk and form per season as shown in the menu table above, and
• Each of the Heather Cultivar Groups with flowers

and the Index for the heathers shown in each of these Comparison Pages is in 1 or more Index Pages in the relevant Heather Evergreen Shrub Index Gallery instead of being in the same Comparison page, due to their being too many to include within the available space.
THIS COMBINATION OF FOLIAGE COLOUR CHANGE CAN BE USED IN YOUR GARDEN DESIGN TO AID DIFFERENT GROUNDCOVER FOLIAGE COLOURS IN DIFFERENT SEASONS, together with the months of flower buds before flowering and the post months of seedheads.

Heather
Evergreen Shrub Species Name with link to its Comparison Page
or
Cultivar or Hybrid Name with link to its Description Page

Flower Colour

Flowering Months

Height x Spread in inches (cms)
(1 inch = 2.5 cms, 12" = 1 foot = 30 cms)

Foliage Colour

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Andromeda polifolia

"A dwarf plant of the northern hemisphere found in Europe, North America ad Japan. The majority of the species grown in gardens emanate from the Japanese population where they are found on well separated mountains, each having distinctive groups of plants."

Andromeda polifolia 'Alba' - H0

White - H0
5-8 flowers in a raceme

May-Jun
Erect habit

6 x 16
(15 x 40)

Dark Grey

Dark Grey

Dark Grey

Dark Grey

Bruckenthalia spiculifolia

"A dwarf, heather like shrub with tiny dense foliage with flowers displayed above the plant in short compact racemes. Ideal for the heather garden with a flowering season earlier than most Daboecia and Erica cinerea."

"Erica spiculifolia (Bruckenthalia) - Bruckenthalia's beautiful name has been changed to plain old Erica." from Heaths and Heathers.

See Erica spiculifolia below.

Calluna vulgaris are listed in the Calluna vulgaris B Gallery Pages
A-C
D-G
H-L
M-R
S-Z

"Calluna prefers light acid soils. It will grow in any lime free soil but growth is less vigourous in heavier soils. Calluna will perform better in open sunny situations, this being particularly true for those exhibiting foliage colour variations."

'Boskoop' - H3

Lavender - H3

August, September

12 x 18
(30 x 45)

Rich Gold

Rich Gold

Rich Gold

Orange with Red tints

'Bunsall' - H2

Mauve - H2

August, September

12 x 18
(30 x 45)

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Orange and Brown

'Coccinea' - H10

Purple - H10

August, September, October

10 x 10
(25 x 25)

Dark Grey-Green

Dark Grey-Green

Dark Grey-Green

Dark Grey-Green

'County Wicklow' - H16

Shell Pink (H16)

August, September, October, November

12 x 18
(30 x 45)

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'Cuprea' - H3

Lavender - H3

August, September, October

12 x 12
(30 x 30)

Copper

Copper

Copper

Warm bronze red

'John F. Letts' - H3

Lavender - H3

September, October

4 x 10
(10 x 25)

Gold

Gold

Bronze

Red and Orange

'Orange Queen' - H3

Lavender - H3

August, September

14 x 18
(35 x 45)

Golden-Yellow

Golden-Yellow

Bronze

Orange

'Red Pimpernel' - H13

Crimson - H13

August, September, October, November

8 x 18
(20 x 45)

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

'Sirsson' - H8

Pink - H8

August, September

12 x 20
(30 x 50)

Gold

Gold

Gold

Orange to Red

'Stefanie' - H0

White - H0

September, October, November

10 x 14
(25 x 35)

Bright Green

Bright Green

Bright Green

Bright Green

'Sunset' - H11

Lilac-Pink - H11

August, September, October

8 x 18
(20 x 45)

Bronzing

Gold

Red

Red

'Velvet Fascination' - H0

White - H0

August, September

20 x 28
(50 x 70)

Soft, Silvery Grey-Green

Soft, Silvery Grey-Green

Soft, Silvery Grey-Green

Soft, Silvery Grey-Green

'White Lawn' - H0

White - H0

August, September

2 x 16
(5 x 40)

Clear Green

Clear Green

Clear Green

Clear Green

'Winter Chocolate' - H3

Lavender - H3

August, September, October

8 x 18
(20 x 45)

New growth is Salmon

Gold foliage with Pink tips

Gold foliage with Pink tips

Intense Red

Daboecia azorica

"This species is found growing in the azores up to a height of 2000m, but despite this, clones so far collected are easily damaged by -5 degrees C frosts. It is distinguished from Daboecia cantabrica by being a more diminuative plant with smaller leaves and flowers with no hairs on the corolla. Plants sold under this name are usually Daboecia x scotica."

Daboecia cantabrica

"St. Daboec's heath has broad leaves, white on the underside, and large flowers which drop when finished. They will tolerate a little shade but should not be planted directly under trees. They are remarably resistant to drought. Some cultivars suffer in winter if planted in heavy ground, frost hollows, or in cold windy aspects."

'Bicolor' - H0 and H9

White, Pink and Beetroot Red - H17

July, August, September, October, November

12 x 24
(30 x 60)

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Daboecia x scotica

"This group of plants consist of hybrids between Daboecia cantabrica and Daboecia azorica. They have the compactness of Daboecia azorica and hardiness of Daboecia cantabrica. Cultural details as for Daboecia cantabrica."

'Bearsden' - H11

Lilac-Pink - H11

June,
July, August, September, October, November

12 x 18
(30 x 45)

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Erica arborea

"A tree heath which in our UK climate may reach 3-5 metres. It is not as tolerant of lime as is commonly supposed and is best grown in acid conditions. Young plants should be shaped in the early years to avoid untidy growth. It is not generally very hardy but there are exceptions. Can be damaged by heavy snowfalls but will break from the base again."

'Estrella Gold' - H0

White - H0

April,
May

48 x 30 (120 x 75)

Lime-Green tipped bright Yellow

Lime-Green

Lime-Green

Lime-Green

Erica australis

"Tree heaths with rather straggly growth preferring acid soils. However, their flowers, large and showy, are outstanding. Prone to snow and wind damage."

Erica carnea are listed in the Erica carnea Gallery

"One of the hardiest of all heaths and very easy to grow in almost any soil. All exhibit a dwarf carpeting habit and with few exceptions rarely require pruning. Care must be taken when pruning as Erica carnea buds as early as July in the UK. It is safer to prune immediately after the flowers have faded. Prune around the edges and very lightly over the top of the plant. The flowering times of Erica carnea vary markedly, plants in milder climates being as much as 2 months earler than in colder conditions. Generally they can be expected to show flower for 6-8 weeks within the time span stated."

Erica ciliaris

"This species occurs naturally in moist acid sunny positions, but experience has shown that, in cultivation, it can withstand drought as well as any other Erica. This species has the largest bells of our native UK heaths."

'Globosa' - H11

Lilac Pink - H11

August, September, October, November

12 x 20
(30 x 50)

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Mid-Green

Erica cinerea are listed in the Erica cinerea Gallery

"A species commonly found on the drier parts of moors and heathlands but fares no better than other ericas during periods of drought. Whilst the majority of the cultivars have rather drab dark green foliage, they are well worth growing for the great richness and range of their flowers. Acid soil is essential to grow this species successfully."

Erica x darleyensis

"One of the easiest heathers to grow. It is suitable for all soils and particularly good at smothering weeds. These cultivars are hybrids between Erica carnea and Erica erigena and, like all sterile hardy hybrids, have coloured young foliage and a long flowering period. Hardy"

'Arthur Johnson' - H8

Pink - H8 , which deepen with age to heliotrope

December, January, February, March, April

18 x 30
(45 x 75)

Mid Green tipped Cream

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'Darley Dale' - H16

Open
Shell Pink - H16 and darken to Pink

November, December, January, February, March, April

15-18 x 36 (37.5-45 x 90)

Mid Green with Cream tips

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'Dunreggan' - H0

White - H0

January, February, March, April, May

18 x 20
(45 x 50)

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'Epe' - H11

Lilac Pink - H11

January, February, March, April, May

12 x 24
(30 x 60)

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'George Rendall' - H8

Open
Pink - H8 darkening to heliotrope

November, December, January, February, March, April, May

15 x 26 (37.5 x 65)

Mid Green tipped red initially, fading to pink and cream

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'Ghost Hills' - H8

Mauve - H2 deepen on aging to heliotrope

November, December, January, February, March, April, May

18 x 36
(45 x 90)

Light Green with Cream tips

Light Green

Light Green

Light Green

'Jack H. Brummage' - H10

Reddish Purple - H10

January, February, March, April, May

12 x 24
(30 x 60)

Golden Orange-Yellow

Golden Orange-Yellow

Golden Orange-Yellow

Golden Orange-Yellow becoming Bronze-tinted

'James Smith' - H10

Deep Pink to reddish Purple - H10

December, January, February, March, April

14 x 22
(35 x 55)

Medium Green tipped Pink and Cream

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'Kramer's Rote' - H14

Magenta - H14

January, February, March, April

15 x 24 (37.5 x 60)

Dark Bronze/Green

Dark Bronze/Green

Dark Bronze/Green

Dark Bronze/Green

'Margaret Porter' - H4

Lilac - H4

December, January, February, March, April, May

8-10 x 18 (20-25 x 45)

Mid Green with Cream tips

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'Mary Helen' - H8

Pink - H8

February, March, April

10 x 18
(25 x 45)

Yellow/Gold

Yellow/Gold

Yellow/Gold

Yellow/Gold foliage bronzing

'Silberschmelze' - H0

Ashen White - H0

December, January, February, March, April, May

14 x 32
(35 x 80)

Mid Green with Cream tips

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green tinged Red

'White Glow' - H0

White - H0

December, January, February, March, April, May

10 x 20
(25 x 50)

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

'W.G. Pine' - H12

Pink to Heliotrope - H12

December, January, February, March, April

8 x 20
(20 x 50)

Dark Green tipped Red

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Erica erigena

"A species useful in alkaline soils and providing some of the better 'architectural' heaths. Not as hardy as Erica carnea and Erica x darleyensis and damage is caused by frosts greater than -10 degrees C. Damage can also be caused by heavy snow as branches are rather brittle."

'Irish Silver' - H4

Lilac - H4

April, May, June

16 x 16
(40 x 40)

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

'Superba' - H16

Shell Pink - H16

April, May, June

60 x 24 (150 x 60)

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Erica lusitanica

"A tree heath found naturally on acid soil in Portugal, Northern Spain and South West France and has the lngest flowering period of any tree heath. Capable of withstanding a considerable amount of drought."

Erica lusitanica

White - H0

March, April, May

40 x 28 (100 x 70)

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'George Hunt' - H0

White - H0

March, April

28 x 18
(70 x 45)

Bright Yellow

Bright Yellow

Bright Yellow

Bright Yellow

Erica mackaiana

"Another lime hater found naturally in boggy ground in western Ireland and north-west Spain. It provides neat ground cover, but is suspect in very dry conditions. It produces new shoots from the roots, which can be detached to form new plants."

'Maura' - H12

Heliotrope - H12

July, August, September

10 x 14
(25 x 35)

Mid Grey-Green

Mid Grey-Green

Mid Grey-Green

Mid Grey-Green

Erica manipuliflora

"An eastern Mediterranean species which is lime tolerant, and happily grows on magnesium deficient soils (unlike Erica vagans). There are 2 distinct populations now classified as sub-species"

Erica spiculifolia

"Erica spiculifolia (Bruckenthalia) - Bruckenthalia's beautiful name has been changed to plain old Erica.  This is probably the hardiest heath of all.  When all others are damaged, Bruckenthalia remains unharmed.  Needs good drainage, acid soil and sun.  The flowers are held above the plants in short compact racemes.  It is an early season bloomer and sometimes blooms again in the fall.  They rot off at the base branch by branch if too wet. Zone 4 (-30 below) - probably Zone 3 - and warmer." from Heaths and Heathers.

"A dwarf, heather like shrub with tiny dense foliage with flowers displayed above the plant in short compact racemes. Ideal for the heather garden with a flowering season earlier than most Daboecia and Erica cinerea." from The Handy Guide to Heathers by David and Anne Small.

'Balkan Rose' - H12

Heliotrope - H12

June,
July

6 x 12
15 x 30)

Dark Gray Green

Dark Gray Green

Dark Gray Green

Dark Gray Green

Erica x stuartii

"A natural hybrid between Erica mackaiana and Erica tetralix in Connemara and Donegal, Ireland. It is apparently absent fromnorthe-west Spain, the only site where the 2 parents co-exist."

'Connemara' - H14

Magenta - H14

July, August, September

10 x 20
(25 x 50)

Dark Grey Green

Dark Grey Green

Dark Grey Green

Dark Grey Green

Erica terminalis

"A tree heath found from southern Spain to southern Italy which nevertheless is the hardiest of all tree heaths. It quickly forms an erect bush, which if pruned frequently in the early years forms a good shape suitable for low hedging and specimen planting. Lime tolerant."

Erica terminalis - H11

Lilac Pink - H11

July, August, September

72-96 x 36 (180-240 x 90)

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

Mid Green

Erica tetralix

"The third most widespread native UK heath, often found in boggy areas. In the garden, however, it is tolerant of drier conditions but does require acid soil. The flowers of this very hardy species are typically held in terminal umbels."

'Delta' - H7

Rose-Pink - H7

July

4 x 8
(10 x 20)

Grey Green

Grey Green

Grey Green

Grey Green

Erica umbellata

"A very useful and colourful species as it flowers between Erica carnea and Erica cinerea. It will grow in alkaline soils but requires a well-drained soil. It can withstand drought and is fairly hardy provided the soil is free draining. It flowers profusely especially if it is not trimmed"

Erica vagans

"A native UK species found on the serpentine and gabbro rocks of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, but will be successful in any soil containing a high content of magnesium. It provides a very useful range of colours during September and October. The faded bells of many cultivars become an attractive russet in winter."

'Holden Pink' - H16

Shell Pink - H16

August, September, October

10 x 24
(25 x 60)

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'Leucantha' - H0

Off White - H0

August, September, October

16 x 28
(40 x 70)

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

Medium Green

'Lyonesse' - H0

White - H0

August, September, October

10 x 20
(25 x 50)

Bright Green

Bright Green

Bright Green

Bright Green

'St Keverne' - H8

Pink - H8

August, September, October, November

8 x 18
(20 x 45)

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

Erica x veitchii

"Hybrids between Erica arborea and Erica lusitanica which are generally not quite hardy, severe damage occurring at -15 degrees C to some of the cultivars."

Erica x watsonii

"A sterile hybrid occurring naturally between Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix, first found in Cornwall in 1831. The form and habit amongst the cultivars varies considerably, but generally they have a long flowering period and are hardy."

'Claire Elise' - H14

Magenta Pink - H14

July, August, September, October

8 x 18
(20 x 45)

Dark Green with striking dark Red tips

Dark Green

Dark Green

Dark Green

'Dorothy Metheny' - H4

Pale Lilac - H4 deepening with age

June, July, August, September, October

12 x 18
(30 x 45)

Bright Green with Yellow tips

Bright Green

Bright Green

Bright Green

Erica x williamsii

"A naturally occurring sterile hybrid between Erica vagans and Erica tetralix first found near St. Keverne, Cornwall in 1860 and known nowhere else but on the Lizard Peninsula. It will tolerate some alkaline soils."

'Gold Button' - H11

Lilac Pink - H11

August, September

2 x 4
(5 x 10)

Golden-Yellow

Golden-Yellow

Golden-Yellow

Golden-Yellow

The 2 rows in the Shrub Heather Index Gallery Pages of "Height x Spread in inches (cms) (1 inch = 2.5 cms, 12" = 1 foot = 30 cms) and Comment" state the Heather Description from 'Handy Guide to Heathers Descriptions & Suppliers of over 1000 varieties" by David & Anne Small, published in 1992 by Denbeigh Heather Nurseries (ISBN 0-9519160-0-9). This gives the official Heather Society flower colour(s) and foliage colour(s).
Photos from Chris Garnons-Williams are added to that respective flower colour or foliage colour page in this Shrub Heather Gallery and the relevant index page in Shrub Heather Index Gallery IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL FLOWER COLOUR OR FOLIAGE COLOUR (stated in the Handy Guide) IN THE IMAGE THAT WAS TAKEN BY CHRIS GARNONS-WILLIAMS.

Site design and content copyright ©May 2012.
Page structure amended January 2013.
Comparison Pages changed in this Gallery and Index Page for each Comparison Page added to the new Heather Index Gallery in December 2014.
Index of Heathers with their own Plant Description Pages created before December 2014 added to this Table in March 2015.
Chris Garnons-Williams.

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