A Look at Heaths and Heathers

• Heathers produce an abundance of bell-shaped flowers.Pink Bell Heather image by Omnom from Fotolia.com
  
  Heaths and heathers are often lumped into the same group. They are actually two different plants with similar characteristics. At a glance they look similar, but they have very different foliage. Heathers (Calluna) have scale-like foliage, bloom in the fall, and are hardy to USDA zone 5. Heaths (Erica) have needle-like foliage, bloom in winter and are hardy to USDA zone 6. For overall toughness, the callunas usually win out. Though there are taller plants within these groups, the low-growing varieties are best for retaining walls.
  
  

Heather Plants for Retaining Walls

• Mixing plants will create a patchwork of color.une bruy?¡§re image by MONIQUE POUZET from Fotolia.com
  
  Heathers are valued for their ever-changing foliage colors, as well as for their flowers. There are newly developed varieties that have longer bloom periods. Aphrodite produces red flowers from late summer until the first hard frost. Annette blooms pink, and Melanie produces white flowers. Spring Torch has mauve flowers but is planted for its cream variegated foliage that turns attractive shades of red and orange in fall. Firefly has similar mauve flowers, but the foliage turns a vivid brick red when the nights turn cool.
  
  

Heaths for Retaining Walls

• Heaths bloom later in the season than the heathers. They are at there best in the middle of winter when color is most appreciated. Erica carnea 'King George' is a very good choice for retaining walls. The maximum height is 6 inches, so little shearing is required. The flowers are pink, and the foliage is deep green. Erica darleyensis 'White Perfection,' is a free flowering white variety. For tight spaces, there is an extra compact variety called Pirbright rose. It has pink blooms and is 6 inches tall.
  
  

Pruning and Care

• The sparse tendencies of heathers can be alleviated with yearly shearing.heather image by donkey IA from Fotolia.com
  
  It is important to keep retaining wall plants in shape. Encourage horizontal growth by carrying out twice-yearly pruning. Heaths and heathers bloom at different times, so prune each plant directly after it has completed flowering for the season. Shear off spent flowers and any irregular growth. Calluna's can take pruning well, but Erica's should only be lightly sheared. They are more sensitive to cold winds and very hot sites.