Erica carnea ‘Nathalie’ – An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with intensely coloured reddish purple blooms that really stand out in the dull winter weather. The flowers are borne from midwinter through to early spring over dark green foliage on compact plants that can be mass planted to form a groundcover. ‘Nathalie’ grows 6″ high by 16″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.
Erica x darleyensis ‘White Perfection’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – A vigorous form of winter heather with long spikes of intense white flowers over bright green foliage from December to April. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner is a sport of ‘Silberschmelze’ and provides good coverage, as it grows 18″ high by 30″ wide. ‘White Perfection’ is hardy to zone 6.
Erica x darleyensis ‘Spring Surprise’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – The flowers emerge a pale shell pink, deepening to rose-pink as they age on this very late blooming winter heather. ‘Spring Surprise’ flowers from March to May, ending the winter heather season in a burst of colour over dark green foliage. This cultivar grows 12″ high by 18″ wide and is zone 6 hardy.
Erica x darleyensis ‘Alba’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – A fairly common cultivar of Darley Dale Heath which is often used in mass to form a flowering groundcover. The pure white flowers (over medium green foliage) appear rather early, often starting in November and lasting well into spring. ‘Alba’ grows 18″ high and 36″ wide. Hardy to zone 6.
Erica carnea ‘Wintersonne’ (syn. Erica carnea ‘Winter Sun’) – This winter heather was bred by Kurt Kramer and has ‘Myretown Ruby’ as one of its parents – hence the rosy-pink flowers that deepen to magenta. Other unique attributes include coloured flower buds and reddish-bronze winter foliage. ‘Wintersonne’ grows 6″ high by 18″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.
Mike's Garden Top 5 Plants 