Erica x darleyensis

Erica x darleyensis ‘Phoebe’

This plant is a Winter/spring flowering heather, a cross between Erica carnea and the taller Erica erigena. It tends to form a larger ‘clump’ or small bush shape to a height of 18” (45cm), flowering from late March to May and continuing to flower for a period after the other Erica carnea cultivars have finished. In some mild years some varieties will produce early flower in the late Autumn.

Flower colour varies from white, through pink to deep rosy pink.

Erica x darleyensis ‘Phoebe’ is the earliest variety to flower with colour sometimes showing from mid August. Other varieties (‘J W Porter’, ’Furzey’) have orange coloured young growth after the flowers have finished in Spring whereas other (‘Katia’, ‘White Perfection’) have creamy coloured young growth.

Erica x darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’ has the longest spikes of deep pink flowers followed by coloured young growth.

New introductions (‘Katia’, ‘Lucie’) are now available with larger, bolder flowers and are believed to be tetraploid forms.

Gold foliage forms (‘Moonshine’, ‘Golden Perfect’) can be planted to provide additional foliage colour throughout the year: others (‘Eva Gold’, ‘Tweety’ ) have golden foliage turning to orange in Winter

Cultivation

Erica x darleyensis does not require an acid soil for it to grow. It will grow on alkaline soils although increases in the degree of alkalinity will affect its performance and foliage colour.

It can be grown in containers or in beds, the texture of heavy (clay) soils can be beneficially improved by the addition of peat and/or coarse grit.

Trim to base of flowering spike after flowering.

Ensure the plants are kept moist during the first year of planting and in dry conditions.

For best results feed sparingly in Spring and early Summer with a general fertiliser.

Ensure the plants are kept moist during the first year of planting and in dry conditions.

For best results feed sparingly in Spring and early Summer with a general fertiliser.