Galloway Heathers Heather Plants
Our aim is to grow good quality heathers at a reasonable price. All our stock is grown in the open, producing sturdier plants and enabling the coloured-foliage varieties to develop their true colours. We currently stock over 130 varieties.
Choose from one of our featured heather plants, opposite, or view a specific variety of heather from the Heather Varietes link and menus opposite.
Calluna Vulgaris |
It is very hardy, dislikes lime, but grows well in a peaty acid soil.
Tolerant of shade, they're freer flowering and happier in full sun.
Some cultivars grow well on clay soils, particularly 'H.E.Beale'. The species is tolerant of salt spray. In a sandy soil it will usually grow without a main stem.
A most beautiful shrub, especially the double flowering forms, for cutting for indoor decoartions.
It is a very useful plant for honey and many beekeeper will take their hives up to the moors for the Autumn. The nectar is more accessible than Erica varieties. Flowers are mostly wind pollinated. Pruning is best left until late March.
The flower has been adopted as the badge of the MacDonnel Clan. |
Daboecia Cantabrica |
Grows in a moist, well drained, peaty soil.
The leaves are large and are not modified with revolute margins to conserve moisture. The species dislikes lime.
After flowering, the plants should be trimmed to remove the flowered shoots.
It is best left until the early spring. |
Erica Arborea (Tree Heathers) |
It grows naturally in alkaline soil and nearly always on a very sunny site. Unpruned plants in cultivation tend to become straggly.
A good specimen in a heather garden can be a striking feature, although not so outstanding as a plant in full flower, with its off-white scented blooms.
When training a specimen, it is necessary to prune the leading shoots back by half in the first few years. |
Erica Carnea |
This species likes sunny slopes and the edges of pine woods.
It is exceptionally hardy being able to flower through snow and ice. It will grow in limy soils.
It is a useful species because it withstands heavy shade, moderate amounts of pollution and considerable salt spray.
Sun improves the colour of E. Carnea in the Spring.
The flowers are produced on the previous seasons growths and fresh shoots are produced above the flowers. |
Erica Ciliaris |
Is one of the most tender of the British heaths.
It detests lime and prefers to grow in moist situations. Under cultivation, it will withstand surprisingly dry conditions. It grows best in full sunshine, but will withstand afternoon semi-shade. |
Erica Cinerea |
It will survive in drier places than Calluna on dry slopes, and is very common on seas cliffs. It dislikes lime, the plant is a sun lover and will not tolerate water logged ground.
Its leaves are ovate but the edges are rolled in towards the midrib which helps moisture conservation.
It has less-fibrous roots than on most other heathers.
In the Hebrides, Beer used to be made from it.
The flower became the emblem badge of the McAlister Clan. |
Erica Darleyensis |
A most useful hybrid in its several forms and a natural companion to Erica Carnea. All the following clones average 25cm to 45cm in height and flower throughout the Winter.
Lime tolerant but not recommended for shallow chalk soils. |
Erica Erigena |
| The plants are slightly brittle and can be affected severely by snow. This species and cultivars is known for growing in limy soil, although it will stand a wide range of other soils. It grows in very moist situation in Ireland. |
Erica Stuartii |
| Origin found only once in Co. Gallway. |
Erica Tetralix |
It is very hardy and detests lime. The slightest hint of lime stunts the plants.
It likes wet places, particularly wet peat bogs or other moist acid places. It is a useful specie having most varieties and cultivates with grey foliage.
The flower is the emblem on the badge of the MacDonald Clan. |
Erica Vagans |
It does not often grow far from the coast, although it is less resistance to salt spray than Calluna Vulgaris.
It grows naturally in neutral or slightly alkaline soils.
The plants usually grow very symmetrically and make attractive hummocks. |
Erica Veitchii |
| Erica Veitchii is a hybrid between E. Arborea and E. Lusitanica. |
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Featured Heathers
Heather Varieties
Varieties of Heather
Heathers are hardy, versatile products that can bring pleasure all year round. The delicate textures of the plants look great in a clump giving a splash of colour. They look equally good on a patio or in a window box. Plant them in your garden, put pots on your patio to bring a little bit of country in the city.
In general terms, planting is straightforward. Plant in 3, 5, 7's - always odd numbers for high visual impact. Different plants have different characteristics but it is as simple as buying a bag of ericaceous compost. Plant, water and leave to grow.
Each plant from Galloway Heathers has its characteristics and planting procedures on the label. |
