How to grow and care for a heather plant

Winter- and spring-flowering heathers provide an important early source of food for bees.

Heathers comprise three closely related genera – Calluna, Erica and Daboecia. To tell them apart you can look at their leaves: Calluna has small, scale-like leaves, Erica has needle-like leaves and Daboecia has small, oval to lance-shaped foliage.

Calluna heathers flower in summer and autumn. These acid-loving species need a light, sandy but nutrient-rich soil, with a pH of 6.5 or less.

Erica heathers typically flower in winter and spring (there are some summer-flowering species). They are more tolerant of neutral to alkaline soils and will grow well in soils with a pH of 7 or higher, as long as the soil has been enriched with organic matter.

Daboecia heathers flower in spring, summer or autumn (depending on the species) and need a sandy, acid soil to thrive.

How to grow heather plant

For the best results, grow heather in acidic, free-draining soil in full sun.

Where to grow heather

All heathers thrive in acid soil, in full sun to partial shade, although winter- and spring-flowering Erica carnea and Erica × darleyensis, and summer-flowering Erica vagans will tolerate neutral to alkaline soil (with a pH of 7 or more), especially if the soil has been enriched with well-rotted organic matter such as manure or compost.

They work well in container displays and at the front of a border, as well as rock gardens.

How to plant heather

Plant heather at the same depth it was growing its previous pot, gently firm the soil around the plant and water well, ideally with rainwater. It's a good idea to add a mulch of bark chippings or leaf mould to suppress weeds and keep the soil acidic.

How to care for heather

Heather plants need very little care. Pot-grown heathers will need feeding during the growing season – choose a fertiliser formulated for ericaceous plants and follow the instructions on the bottle or packet.

Mulch annually to keep soil nutrient levels high, maintain the soil pH and improve soil structure. Mulch acid-loving heathers with leaf mould or bark chippings, and alkaline-tolerant heathers with well-rotted manure or compost.

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Most heathers should be cut back to the base after flowering – they don't grow well from old wood, so discard any that have become woody and leggy. The exception to this rule is the tree heather (Erica arborea). For the first couple of years after planting, prune back by two-thirds. Thereafter, little pruning is necessary. Other tree heathers, Erica australis and Erica lusitanica should be cut back after flowering.

Growing heather: problem-solving

Heathers suffer few problems. However, if the soil becomes too alkaline, heather foliage may turn yellow. In this case, feed with an ericaceous fertiliser in late March or early April, and mulch with leaf mould or bark chippings.

Advice on buying heather

Make sure you're buying the right heather for your garden – acid loving heathers won't grow in alkaline soils
Heathers are widely available from garden centres but you'll find a greater range online