Plant Database

Other Names:  Spring Heath, Snow Heath, Winter Heath

Description:

Noted for its very long blooming season, this interesting groundcover features shell pink flowers from fall to mid spring, over bright green needle-like foliage, ideal for poor soils, also great for massing in the garden

Ornamental Features

Darley Dale Heath is covered in stunning spikes of shell pink bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late fall to mid spring. It has green evergreen foliage. The tiny needles remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Darley Dale Heath is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Darley Dale Heath is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Darley Dale Heath will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.