Erica cinerea Pallas - Bell Heather

Erica cinerea ‘Pallas’ forms a compact and low, spreading shrub. Its thin stems are adorned with linear evergreen leaves, resembling small needles. They provide a choice setting for its violet bell-shaped, nectar-rich flowers that bloom all summer clustered at the ends of the stems. With its spreading habit, long flowering period and evergreen foliage, this undershrub is the ideal ground cover for acidic and well-drained soils.

Native to Western Europe, Erica cinerea belongs to the Ericaceae family. In its natural habitat, it grows in heathlands and siliceous woods. Heather is a low, spreading undershrub, with twisted branches covered in ash-coloured bark. They are adorned with fine green needles that are present all year round. The variety 'Pallas' stands out with its violet flowering. Its bell-shaped flowers are clustered at the ends of the branches and bloom from June to October. They are nectar-rich and attract pollinating insects.

The 'Pallas' heather will fit in all gardens, in a flower bed, a border or a rockery. You can even plant it in a planter or a large pot.
Plant it alongside other heathers with the same requirements: non-scorching sunlight and acidic, well-drained soil. Choose varieties with complementary flower colours or flowering periods. Erica carnea ‘Isabell’, which blooms white from December to March, is a great companion, or Erica x darleyensis ‘Kramer’s Rote’ with its bright pink flowers. To lighten the composition, consider adding grasses like Deschampsia flexuosa 'Tatra Gold' with its acidic green-yellow foliage or Anthoxanthum odoratum to add some texture.
The 'Pallas' heather can also be used to cover the base of taller acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons or deciduous azaleas.