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Shrubs

Erica erigena 'Hibernica'

Irish heath 'Hibernica'

A compact, eventually wide-domed shrub, with brittle stems and needle-like, evergreen, dark-green leaves. From early to mid-spring, it bares an abundance of urn-shaped to cylindrical, honey-scented, pale pink flowers with dark red stamens along the length of the branch ends. Around 31-45cm (12-17in) in height.

Synonyms

Erica mediterranea var. hibernica

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

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)

Botanical details

Family: Ericaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: 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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Tolerates slightly alkaline soils

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in mid-to late autumn and by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover

Pruning

See pruning group 10

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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