Darley Dale Winter Heather

Darley Dale Winter Heather (Erica x darleyensis 'Darley Dale') is a low, evergreen, spreading shrub 40cm to 50cm tall and 50cm to 1m wide, with slender conifer-like foliage. It flowers in spikes of warm pink right through winter and spring, however cold the weather, and it has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when little else does. Warm pink flower spikes open in winter and spring, just when beds look bare.
• Very frost hardy. It stands up to frost down to about minus 10 degrees Celsius.
• More adaptable than most heaths. Unlike some other ericas, it is much more relaxed about soil type and pH, and copes with alkaline soils.
• A good weed suppressor. The low, dense mat of foliage covers the ground and keeps weeds down.
• Feeds wildlife. Nectar-rich flowers attract birds, butterflies and bees in the cold months.

Where it works best

Groundcover planting. Plant 60cm apart. Each plant spreads 50cm to 1m, so they knit into a weed-suppressing carpet beneath taller shrubs or along a path edge.

Tubs, pots and window boxes. Compact, tidy and in flower in winter, it is a good choice for tubs by the front door.

Cottage borders and wildlife beds. In mixed beds and cottage style planting it supplies winter colour and nectar between summer perennials.

Growing Darley Dale Winter Heather in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is frost hardy to about minus 10 degrees Celsius, so it is at home in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. Heaths like cool, mild conditions, and in hot, humid subtropical or tropical gardens they are hard to keep, so we recommend this one for southern and highland regions.

Soil. It likes moist, loamy, free-draining ground but is far more flexible about soil type and pH than most heaths. Mulch after planting to keep the roots cool.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, which takes around 12 weeks. Feed in spring with a slow release, low-potash fertiliser.

Pruning. Shear lightly after flowering, removing the spent flower spikes, to encourage fresh growth and next year's flowers. Avoid cutting into old bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Darley Dale Winter Heather as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small, leafy plant. Plant it in autumn so the roots settle before the cold, and it will keep building into a mat over the following seasons.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Frost hardy plants for cold gardens
• Low-maintenance groundcovers
• Plants for bees and butterflies
• Creating a cottage garden in Australia

Common questions

Is it a true groundcover?

It is a low, spreading shrub, 40cm to 50cm tall, that works as a groundcover when planted in groups 60cm apart. The dense foliage helps suppress weeds.

Will it grow in alkaline soil?

Yes. It copes with alkaline soil better than most ericas, though it still does best in moist, free-draining ground.

When should I prune it?

Shear it lightly after flowering to encourage fresh growth and next year's flowers, then feed in spring with a slow release, low-potash fertiliser.