Heathers in planters?

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

Morning all,

I have 4 planters that are around 1m x 0.5m in size, and am looking at putting some Culluna and Ericas in, one because they are low maintenance and two because I am mixing both then I should (Hopefully) have some colour all year round.

With this I'm looking for some advice about how many of each to plant in each planter, how much spacing do they need, which plants are generally the best to plant in containers, and do you have certain mixes on culluna and Ericas that go together.

And finally what sort of maintenance do they actually need, I've read you cut them back once a year so they keep regrowing?

kind regards
James

Pete.8 · 22 February

I've had one (not sure erica or calluna) for about 30yrs! in my garden.
After flowering it's important to give it a haircut to remove all the dead flowers or they get really straggly.

About 10 yrs ago mine was very big and unruly.
So I dug it out, dug a really deep hole and dropped the plant back into the hole so that just the top 4" was above ground and filled in the hole.
All those bits of plant just below the surface will start to grow roots and you'll have a nice small bushy clump of heathers.
That's not going to be possible in a planter though..

Here it is on this miserable day-

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/1u/ff2p0vkzt2i6.jpg

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

Unfortunately the planters are on top of a French drain, so stones. But yes, that's what we are wanting in the picture, just in a planter.

Has anybody managed to get a few to grow together in a planter?

Loxley · 22 February

I've seen them in stone troughs, so don't see why you couldn't have them in a planter. In a 1 x 0.5 container I would probably go for three. Personally, to simplify maintenance and ensure the best impact, I would go with one type of heather per planter (Erica or Calluna) although I would be happy to mix the colours. If I had to choose one heather it would be Erica as the flowers are so welcome at this time of year, whereas Calluna has a lot of competition in summer... to be honest, I would rather enjoy it on the moors.

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

Thank you for you response, i was looking at 5/6 plants per pot

if I want to add some colour/flowers all year round, would i need a mixture of Erica / Calluna, or do Erica flower all year round (guessing either individual plant flowers at different times)

Also what kinds would people advise, don't want same colours

Fairygirl · 22 February

I agree - three is plenty for that size of container.

Just choose carefully too - many people always think all heathers are the same and need acidic soil, which isn't the case. Many also tolerate loads of rain, as long as the drainage is fine.
There are lots that are great for through winter and this time of year, and many of those [the Ericas - carnea and darleyensis ] can tolerate more alkalinity. If you keep the same types in each container, that will give you a longer season. Check out proper suppliers for them to get the best types for succession of flowering, but bear in mind the timing also depends on your location. Heathers are readily available all over Scotland, so it's easy for me if I want them

This company will give you good advice as to what will suit your site. I have no connection to them.
https://www.perthshireheathers.com/#:~:text=Perthshire Heathers is a family,well suited to Scottish gardens.
Galloway Heathers in Newton Stewart do mail order, so they coul dbe worth looking at too .

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

going to ask a very silly question but what do Erica's look like in summer? and do they a variation that flowers in summer, that will happily mix with winter erica's?

Fairygirl · 22 February

Not a silly question, but they're evergreen, so they look pretty much the same all year round, apart from any spent flowers etc, as you'd expect with any flowering plant.

Or have I misunderstood your question?
If you mean, do the summer flowering ericas look different from the winter ones, the answer is - not really. There are always some differences - heights, flowers, and some in the foliage etc, but they would all mix perfectly well IMO.
Some have gold/yellow foliage - I know I had one in the past which had that and it was nice as it was a bit of brightness on darker days.
If you want them all to look the same in a container, you'd have to either buy 3 of the same plant, or see enough of them in the flesh to judge what you like in terms of the appearance

I've used this nursery for other plants, not heathers, but this might give you an idea of variations
https://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/plants/plant-type/heathers/erica-plants/

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

Thank you for your response. I don't want three of the same in a planter, what I was hoping is to plant 3 (been educated on here, I was going to stick 5 in) Erica's that will all flower as various months of the year, so when I look out in the courtyard I don't just see a sea of green, or have I got it totally wrong and heather will be red all year for example but have flowers too, for a certain about of months.

jblakes8423429 · 22 February

I'm pretty sure I've got it totally wrong, the foliage will stay the same colour (red/orange etc). What I thought was the heather would go back green colour ones the flowers had died.

Fairygirl · 22 February

I really don't understand what you're saying - sorry.
Anything described as evergreen just means it doesn't lose foliage when dormant, like many perennials, shrubs and trees - it isn't necessarily describing the colour of the foliage.
Any plant with red, yellow, gold or plum foliage will keep that foliage colour all year round - perhaps with a slight change due to temps etc, but it would still be described as evergreen. If it dropped the foliage, it would be described as deciduous

Heathers in planters?

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