Winter Heath.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Evergreen shrub

Licht

Full sun to partial shade

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 7 bis 14 Tage

Endgröße

6 to 12 inches tall

Wachstum

Mittel

Winterhärte

USDA 5 bis 7

Blütezeit

Late winter to mid spring

Pflege

Plant this heath in acidic soil and make sure it has good drainage to keep the roots happy. Watch for browning foliage which often signals the soil is too dry or not acidic enough. A light trim after flowering helps keep the plant compact and tidy.

Gießen

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Düngen

Apply a slow release acid loving fertilizer once in early spring.

Schneiden

Prune lightly immediately after the flowers fade to maintain shape.

Umtopfen

Only repot if the plant becomes root bound in its container.

Boden

Acidic, well draining soil

Boden-pH

4.5 to 6.0

Temperatur

-20 bis 30°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

40 bis 70%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Perennial, typically 10 to 15 years

Duft

Leicht

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally considered non-toxic, though it is not meant for consumption.

Kinder

The small, needle-like leaves may pose a minor choking hazard if ingested by small children.

Kontaktallergene

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to fine hairs.

Allergene in der Luft

Pollen is generally heavy and not a major cause of airborne allergies.

Essbarkeit

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Needle like evergreen leaves
• Small bell shaped pink flowers
• Low growing spreading habit
• Whorled leaf arrangement on stems

Höhe

0,15 bis 0,3m

Breite

0,3 bis 0,6m

Blätter

dark green, bronze, evergreen

Blüten

pink, white, purple, 0,5 bis 1cm

Häufige Probleme

• Root rot — Occurs when soil remains waterlogged for extended periods.
• Powdery mildew — A fungal growth appearing as white dust on foliage during humid conditions.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

cuttings, division

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

Überwinterung

This plant is very hardy and requires no special winter protection in most climates. Ensure the soil remains well-drained to prevent root damage during freeze-thaw cycles.

Im Kübel

It performs beautifully in containers, provided you use an ericaceous potting mix and a pot at least 30 cm wide.

Pair this with other acid-loving plants to ensure all members of the bed thrive in the same soil pH.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Rhododendron — They share similar requirements for acidic, well-draining soil.
• Pieris japonica — Both plants thrive in acidic conditions and provide contrasting textures.

Ähnliche Arten

• Heidekraut — Often confused with Erica, but has flatter, scale-like leaves.

Botanisches

Familie

Ericaceae

Gattung

Erica

Ordnung

Ericales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Central and Southern Europe

Artenschutz

This species is common in its native range and is not currently threatened.

It thrives in open, acidic woodlands and heathlands where it can access sufficient light.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

early season nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen

Verwendung

groundcover, rock gardens, winter interest, container gardening

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Does it need pruning?

Yes, trim back the flower stems after they fade to keep the plant compact.

Can I grow this in a pot?

It grows very well in containers as long as the soil is acidic and well-drained.

Woher der Name kommt

The genus name Erica comes from the Greek word ereike, meaning to break, while the species name carnea refers to the flesh-colored flowers.

Gut zu wissen

• It is often called winter heath because it blooms while snow is still on the ground.
• The flowers are technically urn-shaped and hang in clusters.
• It is a calcifuge, meaning it prefers acidic soil and dislikes lime.
• The foliage often turns a bronze color during the winter months.