{"product_id":"darley-dale-winter-heather-erica-x-darleyensis-darley-dale","title":"Darley Dale Winter Heather - Erica x darleyensis 'Darley Dale'","description":"\u003cp\u003eDarley Dale Winter Heather (\u003cem\u003eErica x darleyensis\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers when little else does.\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm pink flower spikes open in winter and spring, just when beds look bare.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVery frost hardy.\u003c\/strong\u003e It stands up to frost down to about minus 10 degrees Celsius.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMore adaptable than most heaths.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlike some other ericas, it is much more relaxed about soil type and pH, and copes with alkaline soils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA good weed suppressor.\u003c\/strong\u003e The low, dense mat of foliage covers the ground and keeps weeds down.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeds wildlife.\u003c\/strong\u003e Nectar-rich flowers attract birds, butterflies and bees in the cold months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTubs, pots and window boxes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Compact, tidy and in flower in winter, it is a good choice for tubs by the front door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCottage borders and wildlife beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e In mixed beds and cottage style planting it supplies winter colour and nectar between summer perennials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Darley Dale Winter Heather in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water regularly until established, which takes around 12 weeks. Feed in spring with a slow release, low-potash fertiliser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear lightly after flowering, removing the spent flower spikes, to encourage fresh growth and next year's flowers. Avoid cutting into old bare wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/frost-hardy-plants\"\u003eFrost hardy plants for cold gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ground-covers-for-low-maintenance-gardens\"\u003eLow-maintenance groundcovers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003ePlants for bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/creating-a-beautiful-cottage-garden-in-australia-insiders-guide\"\u003eCreating a cottage garden in Australia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it a true groundcover?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in alkaline soil?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It copes with alkaline soil better than most ericas, though it still does best in moist, free-draining ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should I prune it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShear it lightly after flowering to encourage fresh growth and next year's flowers, then feed in spring with a slow release, low-potash fertiliser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790321680703,"sku":"ERI-DAR-DARLEY-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/darley-dale-winter-heather-erica-x-darleyensis-darley-dale.jpg?v=1792206242","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/darley-dale-winter-heather-erica-x-darleyensis-darley-dale","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}