Erica verticillata
whorl heath
An erect, evergreen shrub, to 1.5m tall, with soft, dark-green foliage. Pale mauve-pink tubular flowers, to 1.5cm long, are arranged in tightly-packed whorls near the tips of stiffly-upright, otherwise bare, stems and are borne intermittently throughout the year
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Purple Pink | Green | ||
| Winter | Purple Pink | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native to the UK
- 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
Unresolved
- Plant range
- S Africa (Cape)
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows best in a well drained, acidic soil in full sun. See Hardy heathers for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed or by semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Low Maintenance
- Banks and slopes
Pruning
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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