Plants
Heather
Erica gracilis · Ericaceae (Heidekrautgewächse)
As the days grow shorter, heather is one of our favourite companions for balconies, graves and autumn arrangements. Its dense cushions of tiny flowers glow in pink, white and purple long after the summer bloomers have faded. At the Veiling Rhein-Maas we select compact, well-rooted potted plants with full buds so the colour lasts for many weeks.
- Light
- Bright to sunny; a cool, bright windowsill indoors, sunny to partly shaded outdoors.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist and never let it dry out fully; prefer soft, low-lime rainwater and avoid waterlogging.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Erica gracilis
Two groups are mainly sold in the trade: the bell or bud heather (Erica gracilis) with its small, bell-shaped flowers that glow from September, and the hardy winter heath (Erica carnea) along with the hybrid Erica x darleyensis, which blooms from late autumn into spring. With bud heather the buds often stay coloured without fully opening, which keeps the colour particularly long.
In floristry, heather is a rewarding structural plant. As a potted plant it forms the backbone of autumn bowls, balcony boxes and grave plantings, where it combines beautifully with chrysanthemums, dwarf conifers and skimmia. We also use individual sprigs as a delicate accent in autumn arrangements and wreaths.
Quality in heather shows in a dense, evenly flowered crown, fresh green needle foliage and a well-rooted root ball that has not dried out. Plants with brown, dropping foliage have usually suffered drought stress. When buying we deliberately look for firm, crisp shoots, because only heather purchased in vital condition stays beautiful for long at home.
Stylistically, heather suits natural, autumnal and rustic arrangements perfectly. In simple terracotta and zinc vessels it looks rural and elegant; combined with blueberry sprigs, rose hips and grasses it creates an atmospheric late-summer to winter picture. For grave decoration we value its long durability and its calm, flat effect.
Care
- 01Choose a bright spot: a cool, bright windowsill indoors, or a sunny to partly shaded balcony or terrace outside.
- 02Keep evenly moist and never let it dry out completely; water ideally with soft, low-lime rainwater.
- 03Avoid waterlogging and pour off excess water from the cachepot and saucer, otherwise the root ball will rot.
- 04Use acidic, free-draining substrate (rhododendron or bog-bed compost), as heather tolerates lime poorly.
- 05Keep cool at around 5 to 12 degrees; bud heather is not frost hardy and should be protected from hard frost.
- 06After flowering, cut hardy winter heath back by about a third so it regrows compactly.
Frequently asked
- Is heather toxic to cats, dogs or children?
- No, heather of the genus Erica is considered non-toxic to humans and pets. It is therefore one of the few autumn potted plants you can place without concern in households with cats, dogs or small children. Only larger ingested amounts of the saponins it contains might cause mild digestive irritation.
- How long does a potted heather flower?
- With proper care, bud heather often keeps its colour for six to ten weeks, because many flowers remain as coloured buds. A cool, bright spot and even moisture without waterlogging are decisive. The hardy winter heath can even bloom outdoors from November into April.
- When is heather in season?
- Bell and bud heather is the classic autumn plant and is available from us from September into December. Hardy varieties such as Erica carnea and Erica x darleyensis extend the range with their bloom through the cold months into spring.
- Why is my heather turning brown?
- Brown, dried-out foliage is almost always a sign of drought stress or lime damage. Heather has a fine root ball that dries out quickly and is then hard to rewet. Water regularly with soft water, briefly submerge a dry root ball, and at the same time avoid waterlogging.