Erica x darleyensis Darley Dale

Winter heather Erica x darleyensis 'Darley Dale' is an old variety that is still appreciated for its vigour, floribundity, and ease of cultivation. Spreading on the ground to form a large, flowering cushion, this heather is covered in small bell-shaped, soft pink-lilac flowers in the heart of winter when the garden lacks animation. Its young shoots are spotted with cream and enhance the charm of this shrub adorned with small, evergreen, dark green leaves. This hardy and accommodating heather will find a place in every garden. By combining different varieties with staggered flowering, heathers create a patchwork of colour for 6 to 7 months in the garden or in pots, even in slightly chalky and dry soil.

Erica x darleyensis 'Darley Dale' is a British horticultural creation dating back to 1900. It is the result of cross-breeding between Erica carnea, native to mountainous areas of southern and central Europe and thriving on limestone soil, and Erica erigena, acid-loving and native to western Europe. This hybrid combines vigorous growth, beautifully coloured young foliage, and abundant, prolonged flowering. This small, evergreen shrub, with a rounded and spreading habit, will reach approximately 40-50 cm (15.7-19.7 in) in height and 60-70 cm (23.6-27.6 in) in width at maturity, with a fairly slow growth rate. Its lifespan is about 10 to 15 years. 'Darley Dale' generally flowers for several weeks between November and March-April, depending on the climate. Its flowers are small urns that quickly change from greenish-white to pastel pink with white markings. These 3 mm (0.1 in) long flowers are gathered in clusters that are 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) long and are scattered along the branches, amidst linear, obtuse leaves that are 3 to 10 mm (0.1 to 0.4 in) long and arranged in an opposite manner. The young foliage of this variety is light green with white-cream spots, becoming dark green when mature.

Hardy and undemanding of soil type, it is a sturdy shrub, ideal for winter heather beds, along with other varieties, such as the 'Silberschmelze', white and snowy, or 'Kramer's Rote', a bright carmine pink. Darley heather also makes an excellent ground cover, whether alone or combined with dwarf creeping conifers (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star', Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip', J.repanda...), or ground cover plants like silver basket or wall bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana), for example. It also helps occupy the front of beds, bringing them to life throughout the year, especially in winter.