Heathers

Lilac-pink (H11) flowers, darkening to heliotrope (H12), XII–V; dark green foliage, the young shoots with pink tips in spring; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm.

Seedling; found at Furzey Gardens (Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England) by Captain Dalrymple; introduced by John F. Letts (Windlesham, Surrey) by 1963.

Named after the garden in which it originated.

Pink (H8) flowers darkening to heliotrope (H12), XI–V; mid-green foliage, the young shoots tipped red fading to pink and cream; bushy; height 26–30cm; spread 61–75cm.

Seedling; found by C. D. Eason on Maxwell & Beale’s nursery (Broadstone, Dorset, England); introduced by Maxwell & Beale in 1935.

Named after William George Rendall Eason, son of C. D. Eason (Yearbook of the Heather Society 4 (1): 33 (1993)). George Rendall was also the name of the boy’s maternal grandfather.

Pink (H8) flowers becoming heliotrope (H12), XI–V; light green foliage, the young shoots with cream tips in spring; height 26–30cm; spread 75–100cm.

Sport on Erica x darleyensis  ‘Darley Dale’, or seedling; raised by J. H. Brummage (Heathwoods Nursery, Taverham, near Norwich, Norfolk, England).

Named after a locality near Brummage’s nursery (that being Ghost Hill, or Ghosthill).

Deep pink (H8) flowers, darkening to heliotrope (H12), XII–IV; mid-green foliage, the young shoots tipped pink and cream in spring; compact; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm.

Given to Mrs Louis (Moira) Reid (Liskeard, Cornwall, England) by James Smith (Darley Dale, Derbyshire), and subsequently named and introduced by Treseder’s Nurseries (Truro, Cornwall) before 1966.

Named after James Smith, owner of the Darley Dale Nursery.

Lilac (H4) flowers, I–V; mid-green foliage with pronounced pale cream tips on the young shoots in spring; height 26–30cm; spread 46–60cm.

Seedling; raised by J. W. Porter (Carryduff, County Down, Northern Ireland) before 1963, and also named by him; available before 1966 when it was noted by Maxwell and Patrick.

Named after one of J. W. Porter’s sisters (see also ‘Margaret Porter‘).

Heliotrope (H12) flowers, I–V; dark green foliage, the young shoots with cream and red tips in spring; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Flowering can be rather unreliable.

Seedling; raised by James Walker Porter (Carryduff, County Down, Northern Ireland) by 1963; selected after Porter’s death and introduced by John F. Letts (Foxhollow, Windlesham, Surrey, England) in 1970.

Named after the man who raised it.

Magenta (H14) flowers, I–IV; dark bronze-green foliage; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm.

A selected seedling from the deliberate cross by Kurt Kramer between Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby‘ and Erica erigena ‘Brightness‘. An outstanding plant, now very widely planted.

Named after the raiser; rote = red. The correct form is without the apostrophe to conform with German practice.

Large magenta (H14) flowers, I–IV; dark bronze-green foliage; broad upright habit; height 45cm; spread 60cm.

Sport from Erica x darleyensis ‘Kramers Rote’ (fide Kurt Kramer). Clone ERI 21; submitted for plant breeders’ rights in Germany by Ludger Cattelaens (Kalkar, Germany) on 17 December 1998; re-named ‘Lena’ whilst on test; granted 17 May 2000. Alleged to be a tetraploid.

Name derivation unknown