Dark crimson-red flowers, IX–XI; dark green foliage; upright; height 31–45cm; spread 31–45cm. habit.
A sport from ‘Roter Oktober‘, with less blue in the flower colour, found by Johannes van der Schaaf (Geldern-Veert, Germany) in 1993 and introduced in 1996.
Lavender flowers, VIII–IX; mid-green foliage; forms a dome shaped cushion; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm. A seedling found on his nursery by Nigel Sheldon, Wrenvale Nurseries, Ammanford, Dyfed, Wales, in 1993. Named in honour of the famous actor.
Deep lilac-pink (H11) flowers, VIII–X; the foliage changes with the seasons: red in winter, bronze in spring, gold in summer, and shoots tipped with scarlet in autumn; broad upright habit; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm.
Raised by J. W. Sparkes (Beechwood Nursery, Beoley, Redditch, Worcestershire, England); introduced by J. W. Sparkes in 1966. Named on the occasion of a lunch at the RHS Gardens Wisley on 30 July 1966 to celebrate Sir John’s birthday.
Named after the then President of The Heather Society on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Pink (H8) flowers, VIII–IX; gold foliage in summer turning a bright orange-red in winter; height 26–30cm; spread 46–60cm. Outstanding foliage plant, performing best in cold open aspects.
Seedling, perhaps from ‘Sir John Charrington‘; found by Don Richards at Rydal Mount, Eskdale, Cumbria, England, about 1978. Introduced by Autumn 1980 by G. Yates (Ash Landing Gardens, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, England).
A made-up name, because it was a seedling (“son”) from ‘Sir John Charrington‘ — hence the name!
Mauve (H2) flowers, VIII–X; grey-green foliage in summer, turning dull bronze in winter; low spreading habit; height 10–15cm; spread 21–25cm.
Wild-collected; found by Miss Anne Moseley about 1929 on The Lizard, Cornwall, England (cf. Beijerinck 1940); introduced by W. E.Th. Ingwerson (Birch Farm Nursery, Gravetye, East Grinstead, Surrey).
Named after Miss Moseley; she was a nurse but the epithet “Sister” was the appellation used by her own sister.
Lavender (H3) flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage with red shoot-tips; low compact habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm.
Introduced by 1973; cultivated in a nursery on The Wirral in 1973.
Lilac-pink (H11) flowers, VIII–IX; mid-green foliage with some orange, red or pink shoots; erect; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm.
Origin unknown; obtained by D. Lösch, about 1974, as a unnamed propagation of unrecorded origin from the late Hilding Nilsson (Sweden). Named and introduced in Germany but did not sell well so the name was changed to NORDLICHT by Herbert Hatje in 1981.
Named after Skåne, the region of Sweden where it was obtained.
❁ White flowers, VIII–IX; dark green foliage; bushy erect habit; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm. It is claimed to bloom two weeks earlier than ‘My Dream‘, but is widely thought to be indistinguishable from ‘My Dream‘ (hence the name are often regarded as synonyms).
A sport from ‘H. E. Beale”; found by David Ross (Brookholton Nursery, Kettleshume, Cheshire, England); introduced by D. Ross in 1984.
Name alludes to the double white flowers.
White flowers, VIII–IX; downy, grey-green foliage; spreading, prostrate; height 10–15cm; spread 26–30cm.
Seedling; found by Mrs D. Metheny in her garden at Seattle, Washington, USA, in 1973; introduced by Heather Acres Inc. (Elma, Washington, USA) before 1978.
Name alludes to the flower colour.
Mauve (H2) flowers, VII–VIII; reddish brown foliage in winter, turning brown-green with pink-red tips in spring; height 10–15cm; spread 21–25cm. Named after an island in the St Kilda group.
