Semi-double deep cerise (H6) flowers deepening to ruby (H5), VIII–X; dark green foliage; compact; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. One of the best lings introduced in the late 1900s, gaining a Gold Medal in Boskoop, Holland, in 1990.
Heathers
‘Darkness’
Masses of crimson (H13) flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage; neat, compact, upright habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Outstanding.
Seedling; raised before 1966 at the University of Liverpool Botanic Gardens, Ness, The Wirral, Cheshire, England, by M. C. (“Denny”) Pratt; introduced by University of Liverpool Botanic Garden.
Name is a pun on Ness, where it originated, and the dark flower colour.
‘Dark Star’
Semi-double crimson (H13) flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage; neat, compact habit; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm. Much more showy than ‘Darkness‘, with brighter, redder flowers, but not as red as ‘Dark Beauty‘.
Sport on ‘Darkness‘; found by Ernst Stührenberg (Wiesmoor, Germany) in 1981; introduced in 1984.
Name probably a reference to its parent, and perhaps to flower shape.
‘Darleyensis’
Lilac-pink (H11) flowers in curly headed spikes, VIII–X; purple-green foliage; compact habit; height 31–45cm; spread 31–45cm.
Found in Scotland by 1926; introduced by James Smith (Darley Dale, Derbyshire, England) in 1926, and then incorrecly labelled ‘Tenuis’.
Named from Darley Dale.
‘Dart’s Amethyst’
Numerous amethyst (H1) flowers, VIII–X; dark green foliage; compact; height 26–30cm; spread 31–45cm.
The “Dart’s” series of heathers was introduced by Darthuizer Nurseries (Leersum, Netherlands) between 1972 and 1982.
Seedling; found at Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen (Leersum, Netherlands); introduced by Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen in 1976.
Named from Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen have names beginning with Dart’s; flower colour.
‘Dart’s Beauty’
Pale purple (H10) flowers, VIII–IX; soft bronze-green foliage; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm.
‘Dart’s Brilliant’
Lilac-pink (H11) flowers, VII–VIII; dark green foliage; vigorous, upright, rather open; height 46–60cm; spread 61–75cm.
‘Dart’s Flamboyant’
Mauve (H2) flowers, VII–IX; bronze-yellow foliage turning red in spring; spreading, creeping habit; height 10–15cm; spread 46–60cm.
Seedling; found at Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen (Leersum, Netherland) in 1973; introduced by Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen in 1976.
Plants from Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen have names beginning with Dart’s.
‘Dart’s Gold’
White flowers, VIII–IX; bright yellow foliage throughout the year; height 10–15cm; spread 31–45cm.
A sport from ‘Ruth Sparkes‘, but more compact and lower growing and less susceptible to reverting to green foliage.
Plants from Darthuizer Boomkwekerijen have names beginning with Dart’s; foliage colour.
‘Dart’s Hedgehog’
Mauve (H2) flowers, VIII–IX; lime-green foliage in summer, going orange in winter; spreading growth; height 16–20cm; spread 31–45cm.