Woody > Erica > Erica cinerea > Erica cinerea
Erica cinerea
Bell Heather or Heather-bell
Origin: Native to Central and Southern Europe.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This is a low-growing compact shrub that is very beautiful. It has purple flowers that are shaped like an urn; it does however, attract bees so it is not the best choice if you are allergic. It is great for open exposed areas as a shrub border or ground cover.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Ericaceae |
| Genus |
| Erica |
| Species |
| cinerea |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5–7 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 4-16 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 40-65 |
| Height |
| 50–100 cm |
| Spread |
| 75 cm |
Photographs
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Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This is a beautiful shrub that is low growing and compact. It has beautiful bell flowers that drupe and can range in colour. |
| Landscape |
| It is a subshrub that can be used as ground cover, in masses, shrub border and rock garden specimens. |
| Cultivation |
| Best in sunny exposed sites on well drained soils that are acidic. It benefits by the occasional shaping, but pruning is not required. Important to keep it moist in the first year; requires good drainage. |
| Shape |
| Compact, low shrub. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| It has big bell flowers; the darker the leaf of the plant–the darker the flower can be. Very noticable are the long stems with the urn shaped flowers at the tip of the stem. |
| Pests |
| Scale, powdery mildew, rot and rust. |
| Habitat |
| It grows in moorlands, heaths, and open wood areas. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Large bud, white to pink in colour. Ranges from 1.5-2 cm long. |
| Leaf Description |
| It is a dark green leaf, with whorls of 3, that at times do roll under. The size of this leaf is around 5 mm. |
| Flower Description |
| About 30 cm tall with bright green foliage and bright purple flowers in clusters at the ends of the shoots. Urn shaped flowers, which are produced in terminal racemes from summer to early autumn. Flowers are tightly massed in stiff spikes above the pin-sized leaves which range from 4–7 mm long. |
| Colour Description |
| Colour can range from white-pink, mauve to deep-magenta flowers. |
| Texture Description |
| The texture is similar to the strawflower. |
| Propagation |
| Propogation by seed can be triggered by heat and light. Germination is increased if the seed is heated to 120° for 30 seconds before sowing in the propagation compost; also, propagation by cuttings are best done during July and August. You can use the stems below the flowering shoots, as long as the tufts of leaves do not exceed 2mm. |
References
O’Sullivan, Penelope. All About Shrubs and Hedges. Ortho Books an Imprint of Meredith Books,1999.Print.
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