Think carefully before using heathers in containers. They do not like to dry out at the roots so if your planters are in full sun in a sheltered position ie walled courtyard, you will have to keep them well watered. 3 plants will take up a lot of water very quickly during hot weather. Heathers bush up so more than 3 plants per pot is more than enough. Mixing the types and colours will give a spotty effect, if you want solid blocks of colour for impact, one variety and colour per pot will be more satisfying to look at. It will also give a more even growing habit. Trim back flowering stems to just below the dead flower spike after flowering has finished. With time the 3 plants will grow into each other and look like one plant.
Thank you for the update. So my final question is, if you were to put one plant type per pot. Which 4 would you choose?
Also, its an opened sided courtyard, so get a far amount of breeze around it, also being from Matlock, it like to rain a hell of alot, so they should be ok in pots.
That's an impossible question to answer - sorry. It comes down to personal preference. Heathers are a bit of a cliche up here. Along with rhodos and azaleas, they formed the basis of many gardens from the 60s onwards. I only grow the white ones, and I can't remember which ones they are - they're on the outer boundary too, rather than in the garden itself. I'm considering one of the summer flowering, darker reddish/purple ones, but I haven't been down to the nursery I normally use for a long while to take a look. They can cope with any amount of rain. They wouldn't last long up here if they didn't. Even in containers, they need very little attention
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@jblakes8423429 I've found Erica carnea Springwood White and Myetoun Ruby do well for me. There's also others called December Red and Rosalie but I don't grow those.
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Thank you for clearing that up.
Makes the choice far easier now I know I'll still have a mix of colours all year regardless of what heather I pick 👍
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Also, its an opened sided courtyard, so get a far amount of breeze around it, also being from Matlock, it like to rain a hell of alot, so they should be ok in pots.
kind regards
James
Heathers are a bit of a cliche up here. Along with rhodos and azaleas, they formed the basis of many gardens from the 60s onwards.
I only grow the white ones, and I can't remember which ones they are - they're on the outer boundary too, rather than in the garden itself. I'm considering one of the summer flowering, darker reddish/purple ones, but I haven't been down to the nursery I normally use for a long while to take a look.
They can cope with any amount of rain. They wouldn't last long up here if they didn't. Even in containers, they need very little attention
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...