Winter Heath

Winter Heath is a dwarf evergreen that blooms for 3-4 months in the winter and early spring. It’s fabulous because you’ll have masses of bell-shape blooms when everything else is dormant or gone.

The secret to Winter Heath’s winter abilities is where it originates from. It is native to the Alps and can even persist and grow under snow conditions. Many winter blooming flowers can be easily frozen, but Winter Heath’s flowers are unharmed by even zero degree temperatures.

In the 1920’s a Scottish women collected cuttings of Winter Heath she found on a walk in the Italian Alps. She succeeded in cultivating the cuttings and today this tough evergreen flower is grown worldwide.

Winter Heath is tough in harsh cold conditions and has long term staying power as well. It can last for years when neglected and can persist for more than 50 years. This plant is also insect resistant and makes great ground cover because it grows 1 foot high and usually will spread up to 3 feet across.

Planting Instructions:

Lighting: Full sun to light shade.

Soil: Acid & organically rich soil.

Moisture: Well draining soil; is drought tolerant.

Fertilizer / Food: Feed in the moderately in the early spring and late fall with organic plant food.

There are more than 200 cultivars of Winter Heath with bloom times ranging from October to March. You should shear this shrub annually right after the blooms fall off and you’ll end up with attractive blooms year after year.

Make sure you give Winter Heath plenty of room to spread. Choose a place in the full sun where the soil is acid or neutral and there is good drainage. They are truly hardy, preferring poor soil and very little water to do well.