Daboecia cantabrica 'Rainbow' (v)

RHS Plant Profile
Irish heath 'Rainbow'

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Shrubs

An evergreen shrub to 60cm high, with upright stems bearing small, lance-shaped, variegated leaves, green tinted with gold, bronze and red. Flowers are purple, urn-shaped and pendent, and produced from early summer to late autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ericaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Daboecia are dwarf evergreen shrubs with small, leathery dark green leaves, paler beneath, and terminal racemes or panicles of relatively large, nodding, urn-shaped flowers from early summer to autumn
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained lime-free soil, in full sun; will tolerate neutral soil and partial shade. Can be grown in containers in a free-draining ericaceous compost mix. See Hardy heathers for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings, in mid summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Ground cover

Pruning

See pruning group 10; in early to mid spring. Trim spent flowering stems to the base after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to Phytophthora root rot