ERICAS - THE PRESS PLANT OF THE MONTH JUNE 2010

An oldie - an a goodie - is erica, commonly known as heath.  Ericas making their mark in the garden centres include Erica melanthera improved, with its vibrant mass of pink haze, Erica Winterfire which bears a profusion of bright red tubular flowers followed by a mass of yellow growing tips; and for a winter white colouring Erica Surprise, a pure white for of Erica Melanthera from which it was originally bred.  Aptly named Surprise, it can sometimes produce pink and white flowers.

This selection can provide continual gratification throughout winter with their flowering witnessing the changes of the seasons, flowering continuously until early spring.  Ericas make a superb container specimen while a random meandering of mass planted Ericas will provide a true focal point in any garden.

Ericas are generally very hardy and can withstand the Canterbury frosts and snow, although in their first year their tips can get frost damaged.  They should be pruned immediately after flowering to ensure compact bushy plants.  For mass planting allow at least 45 centimetres between plants as they will need room to spread and normally start spreading well during their second year of planting.