Heather Can Add Color to the Garden

Heathers are interesting plants that will provide winter color and evergreen foliage that has seasonal changes. It should be noted, though, that what is commonly called heather is actually a group of three separate plant genuses: health (Erica), Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Irish heather (Daboecia).

The heather family has the species E. darleyensis. It will fill the garden with a wonderful rosy-purple winter color. It has shiny green, needle-like leaves.

The Calluna or Scotch heather, is a good plant for rock gardens or a ground cover. Irish heather is a small evergreen shrub with pink-purple egg shaped flowers.