Purple (H10) flowers, VI–XI; deep green foliage, young shoots tipped yellow in spring; broad erect habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. The first Watson’s heath to found in France, and named after Mary Flecken, the wife of the finder.
Heathers
‘Pink Pacific’
Salmon-pink buds opening to clear rose pink flowers, VI–X; green-grey foliage, young shoots tipped orange-red in spring; spreading habit; height 21–25cm; spread 31–45cm. Recommended. Selected seedling from the deliberate cross between Erica tetralix ‘Hookstone Pink‘ and Erica ciliaris ‘Corfe Castle‘, made by David Wilson, British Columbia, Canada.
‘Rachel’
Lilac-pink (H11) flowers, VII–X; dark green foliage; eventually forms a large dome; height 31–45cm; spread 75–100cm.
Wild-collected; found in Dorset, England, by D. Fyfe. Maxwell, and introduced by Maxwell & Beale (Broadstone, Dorset) in 1929.
Named after D. F. Maxwell’s daughter, Mrs Rachel Tanner.
‘Truro’
Large pale mauve (H2) flowers, VII–XI; mid-green foliage; height 10–15cm; spread 31–45cm.
Watson’s heath was originally collected near Truro but there is no proof that this cultivar has any connection with the discovery of the hybrid.
Named after the cathedral city and capital of Cornwall, near which it was collected. Previously named Erica hybrida ‘Watsonii’.
‘Brockhill’
White flowers, III–V; mid-green foliage; upright habit; height about 1m; spread about 1m.
Seedling; said to have originated before 1939 at Veitch’s Nursery near Brockhill, Devon, England, family home of the Bayne-Powell family; named by David McClintock in 1994 by which time its hardiness was well established; and introduced by Denbeigh Heather Nurseries (Creeting St Mary, Ipswich).
Registered 29 October 1994: David McClintock, Piatt, Kent.
Named after the Bayne-Powell family home in Devon, where this was found.
‘Exeter’
White flowers, III–V, sweetly scented, very abundant; light green foliage; height about 1m; spread 61–75cm. The least hardy of Veitch’s heaths. A chance seedling found in Veitch & Sons nursery, Exeter, Devon.
‘Gold Tips’
White flowers, III–VI; bright green foliage, young shoots tipped gold in spring; height 61–75cm; spread 46–60cm. Relatively hardy, and similar in habit to Erica arborea ‘Alpina‘.
‘Pink Joy’
Pink buds opening to white flowers, III–VI; mid-green foliage; height about 1m; spread 61–75cm.
Found by M. Zwijnenburg (Boskoop, Netherlands); introduced by P. G. Zwijnenburg before 1968 (as Erica arborea ‘Pink Joy’).
Name alludes to the flower colour.
‘Birch Glow’
Deep bright rose-pink (H7) flowers, VIII–XI; dark green foliage; height 26–30cm; spread 46–60cm. Outstanding. Blooms two weeks later than others of similar colour.
Seedling; found by W. E. Th. Ingwersen (Birch Farm Nursery, Gravetye, East Grinstead, Sussex, England) by 1960; found in a row of ‘St Keverne‘ with ‘Mrs D. F. Maxwell‘ in the next row.
Named after W. Ingwersen’s nursery.
‘Carnea’
Shell-pink (H16) flowers, VIII–IX; mid-green foliage; vigorous bushy habit; height 31–45cm; spread 61–75cm. A nineteenth-century selection.
Listed by J. Smith (Monkwood Grove, near Ayr, Scotland); later with Maxwell & Beale (1925)
Named from carneus = flesh-coloured.