Erica cinerea Velvet Night (Bell Heather)

Award-winning Erica cinerea 'Velvet Night' is a dwarf evergreen shrub creating a colorful mat of dark green foliage with deep blackish-purple flowers in racemes from late spring to early fall (Jun-Sep).

• Grows up to 10 in. tall (25 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm).
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
• Performs best in full sun in sandy, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Do not let soils dry out! Provide a site sheltered from strong winds which could desiccate their foliage. Drought tolerant once established.
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to rock gardens, slopes, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, or containers. Excellent ground cover and perfect for edging!
• Generally pest free. May be affected by Phytophthora root diseases
• Need annual pruning, or they become straggly. Prune below the flowers on the stems after flowering in fall or early spring.
• Erica cinerea, also known as Bell Heather or Twisted Heath, are attractive and spectacular in bloom. These evergreen shrubs form mounding, spreading, low bushes, 6-18 in tall (15-45 cm), bursting into vivid colors as they get covered with hundreds of bell-shaped flowers. They enjoy a very long blooming season extending from late spring to early fall and bear the most eye-catching flowers of all heathers. Colors range from white to almost black while their foliage varies from gold to very dark green. Native to Western Europe, southwestern Norway, southern Portugal, and northwestern Italy. Similarly to Callunas, they need annual pruning, or they become straggly. Prune below the flowers on the stems after flowering in fall or early spring. Hardy to Zone 5 and warmer.