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Erica manipuliflora 'Valerie Griffiths'

Erica x griffithsii 'Valerie Griffiths'
Heather 'Valerie Griffiths'

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An attractive and decorative variety all year round. This summer heather forms a small, compact tuft with dense and spreading vegetation. Its yellow foliage darkens in winter to become golden yellow. Between July and October, the plant is covered with pink flowers that cluster along the branches for several weeks. Its bright foliage brings life to rockeries, border beds, flower pots, and planters. This hardy and robust heather tolerates various soil conditions, including slightly chalky ones, if they are light and enriched with humus.
Flower size
7 cm
Height at maturity
40 cm
Spread at maturity
50 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, October to December
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Flowering time July to October
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Description

Erica manipuliflora 'Valerie Griffiths' is a variety of summer heather distinguished by its yellow summer foliage and its golden yellow tones in winter. Between July and October, its branches are adorned with a multitude of small bell-shaped flowers in pale-pink. Standing about 40cm (16in) tall, it spreads to form a dense cushion with evergreen foliage all year round. Not demanding in terms of soil type and exposure, it requires little maintenance. It is accessible to all gardeners and can easily find its place in any garden.

 

Erica manipuliflora 'Valerie Griffiths' is a summer heather, selected by Professor John Griffiths, resulting from the deliberate cross-breeding between E. vagans 'Valerie Proudley' with golden foliage and E. manipuliflora 'Aldeburgh' with pink flowers. This cultivar boasts healthy and robust vegetation. It forms a small evergreen bush with a spreading habit, reaching 0.3 to 0.45m (1ft) in height and 0.45m to 0.6m (1 to 2ft) in width at maturity. It grows slowly and its lifespan does not exceed 12 to 15 years. Small needles, 5 to 7mm long, grow on thin and twisted branches, arranged in whorls of 3 or 4, with a tender greenish-yellow colour in spring, turning yellow in summer, and eventually taking on golden yellow hues in winter. It produces small pale-pink bell-shaped flowers from July to October, measuring 4 to 5mm in length, arranged in long spikes measuring 3 to 7cm (1 to 3in), scattered along the branches. The flower consists of a corolla in the shape of an urn or bell with 4 small lobes and 8 free stamens. The protruding purple anthers give the flowers an elegant appearance. They are popular with bees.

Erica manipuliflora 'Valerie Griffiths' has all the qualities one expects from a heather. It boasts a long and remarkable flowering combined with ever-evolving evergreen foliage throughout the seasons. Its low, dense, and compact growth means it can be used in ground cover beds, as border plants in ericaceous beds, on banks and rockeries, to dress the base of trees and large shrubs, and to fill in undergrowth areas. However, avoid excessively hot exposures. It prefers acidic to neutral soil, but it can adapt to slightly alkaline soil. In any case, well-drained soil without stagnant moisture is essential. It does not tolerate long periods of drought well and appreciates moist soil. Mulching will help maintain relative soil moisture.

Almost maintenance-free, 'Valerie Griffiths' only requires light pruning after flowering, in October. It can be planted alongside other heathers whose flowering will take over, while having similar growth and development, such as E. x carnea, E. x darleyensis, or E. vagans. Its long summer flowering brightens up shaded areas with its vibrant colours. It brings whimsy and cheerfulness to low-growing grassy beds such as carex, ophiopogon, molinia, uncinia, hakonechloa, pennisetum, etc. It can also be mixed in a low and shaded bed with andromedas, bearberries, pachysandra, or Lithodora fruticosa. In acidic soil, heathers form beautiful carpets at the base of larger shrubs: mountain laurel, rhododendrons, camellias, deciduous azaleas, andromedas, etc. Cultivated in pots or containers, it enriches balconies and patios with its intense flowering.

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time July to October
Inflorescence Cluster
Flower size 7 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour golden

Plant habit

Height at maturity 40 cm
Spread at maturity 50 cm
Growth rate slow

Botanical data

Genus

Erica

Species

x griffithsii

Cultivar

'Valerie Griffiths'

Family

Ericaceae

Other common names

Heather 'Valerie Griffiths'

Botanical synonyms

Erica manipuliflora 'Valérie Griffiths'

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference209810

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Planting and care

It prefers fairly fertile soil, although it can tolerate poor terrain. However, it should be peaty, light, sandy, acidic to neutral (pH between 5 and 7), moist and well-drained to dry. A mixture of 1/3 ericaceous soil, 1/3 non-calcareous organic soil, and 1/3 sand is ideal for pot and garden planting. Ideally, plant in autumn to benefit from winter rooting or in spring. Avoid burying the collar too much. This plant appreciates non-scorching full sun or partial shade. In cooler regions, it is possible to plant them in full sun. In hot climates, a partially shaded exposure is preferable. A well-established plant can tolerate some drought for a short period. It is sensitive to root rot and will die in heavy and poorly drained soil.

In the first two years, carefully weed around the base. Adapted to dry environments, the roots of summer heathers are highly branched in the soil and prevent the establishment of other species nearby once they are well-established. In case of prolonged drought, mulch the base to maintain some moisture.

Prune the clumps to half height, just after flowering, from a young age. This will help the clumps to remain dense while producing fresh foliage. A covering of shredded bark or peat is beneficial in the coldest regions.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 3 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well-draining, acidic

Care

Pruning instructions To maintain a dense and compact habit, the summer heather should be lightly pruned just after flowering, usually around October-November. This pruning will remove faded flowers, promote new dense and fresh foliage, and initiate a beautiful flowering for the following summer.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time October to November
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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