White flowers, VI–X; grey-green foliage; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. The foliage is less grey than ‘Alba Mollis‘.
In cultivation by 1789 (see under E. tetralix var. alba).
Named from albus = white; after the flower colour.
Erica tetralix flowers white (f. alba)
‘Alba Mollis’
White flowers, VI–X; grey-green foliage, shoots tipped silver-grey; compact, upright; height 16–20cm; spread 26–30cm. A nineteenth-century cultivar that is still a firm favourite.
In cultivation before 1867; listed by Maxwell & Beale (Broadstone, Dorset, England) in 1930s.
Named from albus = white; a reference to flower colour; mollis = soft.
‘Alba Praecox’
White flowers, VI–VIII; greyish foliage; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Blooms earlier than ‘Alba Mollis‘ and has less striking foliage.
Introduced by 1888.
Named from albus = white; a reference to flower colour; praecox = early, precocious, a reference to the flowering season.
‘Bartinney’
White flowers, V–VIII; silver foliage; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. One of the earliest to bloom.
Wild-collected; found at Bartinney Downs near Land’s End, Cornwall, England, by Neil Treseder before 1972; introduced by Treseders Nursery (Truro, Cornwall) before 1972.
Name after the place where it was collected, Bartinney Downs, near Lands End, Cornwall.
‘Dee’
White flowers aging to pale pink, VI–X; silver-grey foliage; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Named after the Dee river in Wales.
‘Hailstones’
White flowers, VI–X, profuse; dark green foliage; compact; height 10–15cm; spread 26–30cm. Found near Uig, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
‘Helen Nicol’
Flowers single, calyx yellow, corolla white: VI-VIII: foliage bright green: habit spreading: height 20cm: spread 40cm. Found as a seedling, by Mr Nicol in July 1984 at MarkHill, Glenapp, Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland, and named after his wife. Registered 1 November 1995: Robert D. W. Nicol, Stranraer, Wigtownshire DG9 OBG.
‘Melbury White’
White flowers, VI–X; silver-grey foliage; neat compact habit; height 21–25cm; spread 26–30cm.
Wild-collected; found on Melbury Common, Devon, England, by 1966; introduced by Treseder’s Nursery (Truro, Cornwall).
Named after the locality in north Devon where it was collected.
‘White House’
White flowers, VII–IX; grey-green foliage; compact habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm.
Introduced by N. R. Webster (Glencairn, Elgin, Scotland) in 1959.
Name possibly alluding to the flower colour.