Daboecia cantabrica Alba - Irish Heath

Daboecia cantabrica 'Alba' differs from the typical form of St. Daboec Heather by its white flowering that emerges well above the foliage mass. This pretty Irish Heather, with a rustic appearance, is a persistent undershrub that stands out from other heathers with its low, dense yet flexible habit, the duration of its flowering, and the beautiful size of its pure white bell-shaped flowers. When conditions are favourable, this plant forms lovely pink and white checkered ground-cover for rockeries, borders of beds, and rural hedges in a naturalistic garden.

Daboecia cantabrica, also known as the Cantabrian Mountain Heather, belongs to the Ericaceae family. It is native to Western Europe, specifically Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the Azores Islands. It grows spontaneously on the edge of woodlands and heathlands, on acidic, sandy or peaty soils, which are poor but do not dry out. Undemanding, it can withstand temperatures around 15 to -18°C (5 to -0.4°F). The 'Alba' form is a natural mutation of this plant, present in the Pyrenees in its spontaneous state.  

Its habit is spreading, carried by prostrate, hairy, and glandulous branches at the top, which partially straighten up. At maturity, it will measure an average of 38cm (15in) in height with a relative spread of 40cm (16in). Its small elliptical-ovate leaves, 1cm (0.4 in) long and 4 to 5mm (0.2in) wide, are evergreen, simple, leathery, and arranged alternately on the branches. Green and shiny on the upper surface, they are downy and curl at the edges on the reverse side. The long-lasting flowering begins in June and lasts until September-October. Gathered in loose terminal clusters of 3 to 8 units, the flowers are charming pendulous bells measuring 8mm (0.3in) long and 3 to 4mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) in diameter. Their colour is pure white. This nectar-rich flowering attracts and nourishes numerous pollinating insects.

Hardy and tolerant of very poor and very acidic soils, it is an ideal shrub for an alpine garden as well as by the seaside, planted en masse to vegetate a rockery, or a sandy slope where few plants are willing to grow. It can be planted with Armeria maritima, Azorella, and other heathers like Calluna or even Asteriscus maritimus. It can also be grown in a pot on a terrace or balcony for its slightly wild appearance and long pink flowering: choose a large enough container and keep the (exclusively acidic) substrate always moist.