Scientific Name:
Erica carnea
Pronunciation:
ER-ee-kuh KAR-nee-uh
Common Name:
winter heather
Family Name:
Ericaceae
Plant Type:
Ground cover
Key ID Features:
Small evergreen, most 20-30cm tall; leaves needle-like, glabrous, in whorls of 3 or 4 and held at 90 degrees to stem, most 6-10mm long x ~1mm wide; flowers urn-shaped, 5-7mm long, clustered amongst leaves on one side of stem, most cultivars bloom for 6-8 weeks between Dec. and Apr.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like, Mounded
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
Europe (alpine areas)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Erosion control, Filler, Fragrance, Group or mass planting, Rock garden, Spring interest, Winter interest
Additional Info:
Google. Species is tolerant of alkaline soils. Cultivars shown or on campus may include E. ‘Springwood White’ and E. 'Wintersonne'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Needle-like
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Acicular, Linear
Apices:
Acute, Apiculate
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
In whorls of 4
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered, Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Violet, Pink, Red, Dark-red
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Brown
Propagation:
Seed, Greenwood cuttings
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Shear after flowering to maintain desired size
Pest Susceptibility:
Root rot, Rust (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- CLT Training
- HORT 1155
- Level 1 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (AGB) Acer Griseum Bed : hybrid?
- (GAZ) GAZebo
- (GAZW) GAZebo West
- (GRB) GRass Bed : cv. Springwood White
- (ONW) Overpass North side West