Shonnard’s Nursery
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Ghost Hills Heath
Erica x darleyensis 'Ghost Hills'
Plant Height: 18 inches
Flower Height: 24 inches
Spread: 32 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5b
Other Names: Darley Dale Heath
Description:
One of the toughest and more tolerant of heaths to a variety of soils and moisture conditions, this variety features purple flowers along upright spikes in late winter and early spring; makes a great groundcover in a mass planting
Ornamental Features
Ghost Hills Heath is clothed in stunning spikes of purple bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late winter to early spring. It has dark green evergreen foliage which emerges creamy white in spring. The tiny needles remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Ghost Hills Heath is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Ghost Hills Heath is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
Planting & Growing
Ghost Hills Heath will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 32 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
