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Although we use the terms heath and heather very loosely, ‘heath’ really refers to two of the genera, Erica and Daboecia.

The Ericas are mainly low mat-forming plants, although some – the so-called tree heaths – grow into quite tall shrubs (not trees as such).  Ericas have short needle-like foliage and spikes of small but pleasing bell-shaped flowers.

Daboecias have larger bell-shaped flowers and their foliage is elliptic- rather like that of privet, although on a much smaller scale – and deep shiny green.

The third genus, Calluna is popularly known as ‘heather’.  As with most Ericas and Daboecias, the habit is mat-forming.  The foliage, however, is very different; small and scale-like, the individual leaves being packed very closely together.  The flowers are again bell-shaped and carried in spikes.

These, then, are the heaths and heathers – there are no other genera.   Between them they can provide flowers all the year round, even in the depth of winter, and varieties with coloured foliage- such as gold – look good all year round but they show up especially well in winter.

General Information on Heathers

Heaths and heathers look at home in gardens of any style, from modern formal town gardens to informal country gardens.  In informal country gardens, plantings of heaths and heathers may well echo the surrounding countryside – perhaps heathland or moorland where heaths and heathers grow wild. A very good incentive for growing heaths and heathers has already been given – the all-year-round colour they provide.  But there are several other reasons why this group of plants can be recommended.

Heaths and heathers are suitable for all sizes of garden.   Even the tiniest plot can accommodate at least a few different kinds.   If you garden only on a balcony you can grow them in containers. They can be grown in all kinds of soil, too.  It is true that the majority must have acid or lime-free soil, but some will grow in alkaline (limy or chalky) conditions, particularly the winter-flowering Erica’s.   If your soil is not right for some of them, then why not grow a collection in pots, tubs or window-boxes?

Scottish Heather is one of the many symbols of Scotland, derived from the heath and heather clad hills where the wet acid soil allows it to thrive. In modern times many other varieties of the plant have been developed, in a range of colours both in its flowers and its leaves.

Arthur Bell’s Whisky developed the Heather Garden here at Cherrybank in 1984. It has changed and evolved tremendously since then and is now the largest example of its kind in the UK. The Gardens play an important role in the conservation of the heather species and the development of new varieties.