Andromeda polifolia, Bog Rosemary
A low-growing plant of the northern hemisphere found in Asia North America and Europe. Pink flowers bloom from April to July. Needs moist soils, as the name implies.Calluna vulgaris, Scotch or Ling Heather
These plants are the most varied and interesting of all Heather. Leaves are small and scale-like. Flowers are single or double. Their forms vary from small tufts to shrubs over two feet tall. Most are small bushes to 36 inches. Foliage color can be as beautiful as the flowers with golds, oranges, gray and many shades of green. These colors change with cold weather to red, orange, bronze and dark green taking on plum-purple hints. Some of the varieties have beautiful colored new growth with shades of pink, yellow, orange or cream. These Heather do best in well-drained, acidic soil. They need sun for at least half the day for their best color performance. Callunas must be pruned or they will become leggy. Trim to below the old flowers in March.Erica carnea, Winter Heath
Needle-like foliage. Native to mountains of central and southern Europe. Flowers during period from October to April. Low and fast growing, well suited to be a ground cover. Forms a weed-smothering mat. Light shearing when young will form dense growth. This will help prevent the plant from forming bare wood in the center. Slightly acid to alkaline soils is best. Very hardy. Trim right after bloom is finished.Erica cineria, Bell Heather
Leaves are short needles in bunches. Stiff branches, upright to 24 inches. Blooms early summer from May to September. Flower colors are some of the brightest and most vivid of all Heather. Prune below old flowers in early spring.Erica x darlyensis, Winter Flowering Hybrid Heath
Winter flowering and bright colored flowers blooming through the winter months to May. Flowers open pale and then brighten as the season progresses. Leaves have pink or cream tips in spring. This plant is bushier than Erica carnea and grows to 18-36 inches tall. Light shearing when plant is young is a good idea. Prune to shape soon after blooming. Slightly acidic to alkaling soils is best.Erica x stuartii, Stuart’s Heath
