Erica ciliaris
Erica ciliaris · Ericaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around erica ciliaris and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- 0.3 to 0.6 m in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender (−5 °C)
- Origin
- Brittany, Cornwall (United Kingdom)
- Soil type
- Acidic, well-drained
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season to keep the soil moist but well-drained. Avoid hard water, which is harmful to this acid-loving plant. In winter, reduce watering without letting the soil dry out completely.
Exposure
Prefer a sunny to partially shaded location, with at least a few hours of direct sunlight daily. In very hot regions, light afternoon shade protects it from water stress.
Soil and substrate
This heather requires acidic soil (pH 4.5–6). Enrich with heather soil or acidic compost. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot, particularly in winter.
Pruning and branching
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Avoid severe pruning on old wood, as recovery is slow.
Fertilizer
Apply a fertilizer specific to acid-loving plants in spring and early summer. Limit applications, as this heather prefers poor soils.
Pests and diseases
Watch for powdery mildew in humid, stagnant conditions. Spider mites can appear in dry conditions. Good drainage and air circulation prevent most fungal problems.
Did you know?
Erica ciliaris is endemic to the Atlantic coasts of Brittany and Cornwall, where it colonizes temperate coastal heathlands battered by sea spray. It owes its epithet 'ciliaris' to its finely ciliate leaves (bordered with tiny hairs), an adaptation to the humid and windy oceanic climate.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea
- Cross-leaved heathErica tetralix
- Bog rosemaryAndromeda polifolia
- BearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Strawberry treeArbutus unedo
- Tree HeathErica arborea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.