White flowers, III–IV; yellow foliage throughout the year; height 61–75cm; spread 31–45cm. Outstanding plant for sheltered but open sites, but it i tender and should not be planted where temperatures can drop to –10°C. Found by George Hunt who gave all of his stock away in aid of the National Cancer Research Campaign.
Erica lusitanica
‘Le Vasterival’
White flowers with pink buds, III–V, in long plumes; dark green foliage; erect. From the garden of the Princess Sturdza, called Le Vasterival (Normandy, France), introduced by Minier’s Nursery). This was wrongly identified initially as Erica x veitchii (see Heathers 7: 71. 2010), and is marketed under the trade designation GREAT STAR
‘Sheffield Park’
White flowers, with deep pink buds; height 61–75cm; spread 31–45cm.
A seedling from Sheffield Park (Sussex) introduced by Liss Forest Nursery by June 1996.
Named after the garden where it was found.
‘Sunshine’
Flower buds bright dark pink, contrasting with pale yellow-green foliage, opening white; foliage yellow, fine; habit upright.
Seedling raised by Helmut Hiedl (Altusried, Germany). Resistant to Pestalotiopsis (an endophytic fungus that attacks heathers); suitable for cultivation under glass.
See http://www.hiedl-gbr.de/aktuell2.htm (accessed 2 January 2015).