By Jonah13
Berkshire, United Kingdom
What is the flowering period of Erica Caluna? Is it the same as Darylensis or Carnea, which last even from Dec to May? They were delivered to me by my GC. I have never seen this type before. Looks related to wild Ling of moors.
- 15 Dec, 2012
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heathers
Answers
The ones which I have now are in flower now, making some quite nice colour. I did specifically ask them for 'winter flowering heathers', and this is what they delivered. Can't load a pic I'm afraid due to a technical problem with my camera.
15 Dec, 2012
I would not classify erica calluna as winter flowering. It is summer flowering .
15 Dec, 2012
'calluna' is not an erica it is Calluna vulgaris with approx 1,00 cultivar names and as said flowers in summer. The winter flowering heather is Erica carnea again it a multitude of cultivars.
15 Dec, 2012
So my GC has sent me the wrong thing. They always flipping****welll do! Always get it wrong. Every time. I need Darylensis don't I. They flower from Dec to May, white, pink and purple. I'll phone the berks up. Nice to be back on GOY. Blindness problems, technical problems, illness problems, time in hospital. Glad to be chatting with you again.
15 Dec, 2012
Do Calluna also need acid soil? The labels on the pots spell it 'Caluna' with one 'l'. Is that wrong too? Can't my GC spell either? I wonder if they can spell 'flowar?' I feel very sarcastic this afternoon.
15 Dec, 2012
Erica vagans will tolerate alkaline soil, but again they are Summer flowering.
And yes, Calluna is the correct spelling.
Erica x darleyensis needs an acid soil and flowers from February onwards.
15 Dec, 2012
Are not Darleyensis and Carnea the same in that they will tolerate neutral to acidic soils, but certainly not alkaline? I have some long growing in a neutral soil and flowers from January. I'm not sure which of the two it is. I treasure them.
15 Dec, 2012
Erica x darleyensis is the name for the crosses between E. carnea and E. rigena.
E carnea is the straight species.
They will grow in neutral to acid soil, but not in alkaline. Flowering with them is generally from Feb onwards, but in milder areas and decent winters they can begin to show buds much earlier.
15 Dec, 2012
Ah, I am in the mild south. Thank you for that breeding info.
15 Dec, 2012
Happy to help Jonathan Owdb's info is what I would have given you if I'd seen your follow up query earlier... Our E. carnea tends to start flowering in January... even in a bad winter. GCs can be the pits for knowledge and spelling unfortunately.
Sorry you have been having a rough time of it again and delighted to see you back on GoY!
15 Dec, 2012
I have quite a few different ericas. They all flower in winter,for quite a long time but not all quite together, and they are all all doing very well in neutral soil. Darleyensis is just one variety - a nice pink, but don't limit yourself just to that one. Its the summer flowering callunas that need acid.
15 Dec, 2012
Stera. even the winter ones wont cope with alkaline soil...
15 Dec, 2012
After some Googling I found this:-
When people mention heather, they are almost always talking about two different genera of plants: heaths and heathers. Although both belong to the Ericaceae family, they are botanically different and are divided into the Calluna genus and the Erica genus. For practical purposes, however, they are nearly identical, sharing color, form, and growth habits. They are all evergreen, well-mannered, and low-maintenance plants that thrive in similar conditions of sunlight, water, and soil. Winter hardiness is the only major difference between species.
15 Dec, 2012
In my experience Callunas are much more likely to grow tall and rank if not kept well trimmed. There are Ericas that never get taller than an inch or so, a prime example being a white E. carnea at the front of our ericaceous bed that has been there for about fifteen years, spreads sideways but never gains any height and will be flowering in less than a month. Stera. if you want summer flowering heathers look for E. cinerea or E. tetralix.
16 Dec, 2012
And x darleyensis has over 40 named varieties too.
16 Dec, 2012
This is almost enough for an encyclopedia on heathers. Should it be stored in a special section for reference? Most GC staff know nothing about plants. They just sell things and work tills. Same with their delivery drivers.
16 Dec, 2012
I've nominated for GoYpaedia...
16 Dec, 2012
I haven't got alkaline soil MG. Just said they do well in neutral. Happy Christmas anyway!
16 Dec, 2012
Thank you Moon grower.
17 Dec, 2012
Erica carnea, Erica x Darleyensis, and Erica erigina, all winter and early spring flowering will all tolerate alkaline soils.
20 Dec, 2012
MG are the summer flowering ericas you mentioned also happy in neutral soil? Could be just what I need!
21 Dec, 2012
Yes our soil isn't particularly acid
21 Dec, 2012
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They flower from July to October.
15 Dec, 2012