Scientific Name:
Erica tetralix
Pronunciation:
ER-ee-kuh tet-TRAY-liks
Common Name:
cross leaved heath
Family Name:
Ericaceae
Plant Type:
Ground cover
Key ID Features:
Plants erect or ascending, most 10-40cm tall; leaves in whorls of four, narrowly oblong to linear, 3-5.5mm long x 0.5-0.7mm wide, usually pubescent with glandular hairs, margins rolled downwards; flowers bell-shaped, 4-5mm long, drooping, light pink, in compact umbels at the ends of its shoots, for a few weeks between May and Aug.
Habit:
Dense, Upright
Form:
Oval - horizontal
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Filler, Group or mass planting, Rock garden, Summer interest
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Shapes:
Linear, Oblong
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Ciliate, Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Umbel
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Nov
Bark Morphology:
Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Brown
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
(Deer resistant)
