A dwarf shrub about 10-15cm high and 30cm wide, with a compact habit, leaves which are golden green in spring and summer and orange-red in autumn and winter, and fragrant, lilac-pink flowers, darkening with age, and with chocolate-brown anthers, from midwinter to early spring; most Erica species and cultivars are excellent plants for all types of bees
0.1-0.5 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in full sun, in well-drained, preferably acidic, sandy or organic soil; will grow in poor soils, and will tolerate neutral and mildly alkaline soils, and will tolerate some shade; for more advice, see heather cultivation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from mid-summer to late summer, or by mound-layering in spring
Pruning group 1 or pruning group 10 after flowering, to maintain compact habit
Generally pest-free, but rabbits may damage young plants
May be susceptible to fungal diseases, including honey fungus (rarely), and Phytophthora root rot, in wet conditions