❁ Shell-pink (H16) flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage; erect; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm. A sport from ‘H. E. Beale‘, but being smaller the flowers appear larger. Named after the finder’s daughter.
Heathers
‘Sonning’
❁ Pink flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage turning green-brown in winter; open erect habit; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm. Very like ‘H. E. Beale‘.
Found by a Mr Morgan of Sonning (Berkshire, England), before 1990; obtained from Windsor Great Park; grown at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Wisley, from 1990.
Named by the finder who came from Sonning, Berkshire, England,
‘Sonny Boy’
Violet flowers, VIII–X; yellow foliage; compact erect habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Thought to be a seedling from ‘Darkness‘ and given the nickname of finder’s young son. Found by H. Hatje, Tornisch-Ahrenlohe, Germany in 1987; introduced by him in 1992.
‘Sophia’
❁ Silver-pink flowers with deep red sepals, VIII–X, 5–7mm in diameter; grey-green foliage; broad, upright habit; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm. Found by J. van der Lip (Hazerswoude, Holland) about 1993, named after his wife. A sport from ‘Elsie Purnell‘.
‘Sparkling Stars’
White flowers, VIII–IX; mid-green foliage in summer, shoots tipped yellow in winter becoming pronounced in spring; compact, broad habit; height 16–20cm; spread 21–25cm. The name is derived from the display in spring
‘Sphinx’
♤ Pale pink, IX–XI; foliage bright green; habit open erect.
A sport from ‘Marlies‘, found by Johannes van Leuven; selected in October 2000. Registered on 15 December 2002 by Johannes van Leuven.
‘Spicata’
Amethyst (H1) flowers, VIII–IX, in long, tapering spikes; pale green foliage, often tipped purple; upright; height 26–30cm; spread 31–45cm.
B. Proudley & V. Proudley, Heathers in colour: 180* (1974) noted that several similar clones were in cultivation in Netherlands and Germany in the 1970s, ‘and the naming is rather confused.’*
Namesd from spicatus = bearing a spike. Loudon gave this the rank of variety.
‘Spicata Aurea’
Mauve (H2) flowers, VIII–IX; fluffy, orange foliage; vigorous, upright; height 31–45cm; spread 46–60cm.
Introduced by 1960.
Name spicatus = bearing a spike; aureus = golden yellow
‘Spicata Nana’
Mauve (H2) flowers, VIII–IX; mid-green foliage; compact; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm.
‘Spider’
White flowers, VII–IX; mid-green foliage in summer, shoots tipped creamy white in winter becoming pronounced in spring; compact; height 16–20cm; spread 21–25cm.