Winter flowering heathers are an outstanding source of winter colour in the Pacific Northwest.
The loss of all our lovely fall foliage often makes November seem far more bleak than other winter months. The fresh appearance of new heather buds, however, can really transform a dull winter garden into an attractive show place, and with a little careful planning, you can stretch that colour from September until May of the following year. There are, however, a few secrets to planting and displaying these colourful plants. One of the finest features of Erica, or winter heather, is its ability to grow in areas where other plants have some difficulty. Certainly they perform well in good soil, but they are also ideal for rocky, gravelly areas or in sloping hillside gardens.