Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

The bell heather is a small subshrub that impresses with its pretty, bell-shaped flowers. It can be grown in a bog bed or in a pot.

The flowers show where the bell heather got its name from

Is the bell heather hardy? How long does the bell heather bloom? Answers to these questions as well as tips for planting and caring for Erica tetralix can be found in this article.

Glockenheide: heyday and profile

The bell heather belongs to the heather family (Ericaceae) and is widespread in the Atlantic parts of Europe. In nature, they are mainly found in bogs. The bell heather is an evergreen, richly branched dwarf shrub. Its height is between 20 and 50 cm and it can reach a width of up to 50 cm. It has fine, shallow roots, small, needle-shaped leaves, and mostly pink, bell-shaped flowers. The perennial plant is hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -28 °C.
The bell heather blooms from June to September. Even after pollination, the flowers remain, so that the flowering period appears longer. In addition to the beautiful flowers, the bell heather also impresses with its bee-friendliness.

Tip: In winters without snow, the heather is still at risk of frost, since as a so-called chamephyte it normally protects its buds from frost under a blanket of snow.

The pink flowers are an eye-catcher in every garden

The most beautiful varieties

There are various types and varieties of bell heather, of which we briefly present the most beautiful ones here:

  • Erica tetralix 'Alba': The white flowers appear between June and October. It reaches a size of 20 to 30 cm.
  • Erica tetralix 'Con Underwood': This variety is also slightly smaller at around 25 cm and has a strong purple-pink flower .
  • Erica tetralix 'Pink Star': This variety has pink flowers that appear from July to October.

Tip: In addition to Erica tetralix, at least two other plant species are also referred to as bell heather .Erica gracilis is native to South Africa, flowers pink or red between July and November and needs a consistently moist substrate to thrive. Also, Daboecia cantabrica is referred to as Irish bell heather. Its bell-shaped flowers are significantly larger than those of the Erica species.

Erica gracillis is also called bell heather

Planting bell heather: location, time and procedure

The bell heather grows naturally on bank edges and in bogs. Accordingly, it needs locations that are sunny to semi-shady, acidic and moist. For at least a portion of the year the substrate should be really wet. Due to its low growth height, Erica tetralix is ideal for planting on slopes, balconies or graves. Autumn or spring are ideal for planting the bell heather. You can plant the bell heather both in the bed and in a pot. The so-called swamping has proven its worth. For this purpose, a planting hole is first dug, which should be at least twice as large as the root ball. The hole is filled with acidic substrate that meets the demands of the heather on the soil. For example, our Plantura organic acidic soil, which was specially developed for ericaceous plants such as heather, is suitable for this. It is peat-reduced and consists of natural raw materials.
Now fill the whole thing up with lime-free water, for example rainwater, and stir vigorously so that the peat contained can soak up well. The bell heather is now placed in this water-earth mixture. Carefully scratching the roots beforehand will encourage branching and growth of the heather.

Tip: If you want to buy a good quality heather, it is best to contact a nursery.

In order to promote optimal development of the plants, you should ensure a planting distance of about 20 - 30 cm. Pagans look best in larger groups. Simply plant seven or more specimens together in one location.

Care for the bell heather

One of the most important aspects of bell heather care is watering, as the plant loves moisture. Otherwise Erica tetralix is very easy to care for.

The plant has a relatively high water requirement, which is best covered with rainwater. It is particularly important that the irrigation water is lime-free, since the heather is sensitive to lime. The soil should ideally always be moist or evenbe wet However, short periods of drought are survived.

The bell heather is particularly impressive in groups

Due to its preference for nutrient-poor soils, the heather rarely needs to be fertilized. From time to time, however, it should be supplied with important nutrients - for example with a special fertilizer for ericaceous plants. Potted plants in particular need fresh nutrients from time to time, as the substrate in the pot leaches out more quickly. A long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer is ideal, for example, as it lasts for a long time and meets the needs of ericaceous plants. You can simply incorporate it into the soil when planting and transplanting.

After flowering, preferably in early spring, the withered inflorescences can be removed. You can also cut the heather back to the previous year's size to stimulate new growth.

Dried flowers can be removed from Bell Heather

Is the bell heather hardy?

Whether the bell heather is hardy also depends on the climate and care. Erica tetralix can endure double-digit minus temperatures, but it doesn't particularly like icy and dry winters. As a chamephyte, it is dependent on snow cover, which has an insulating effect. If snow does not fall, insulation should be done in other ways. A layer of mulch made of leaves can be used for this, for example. This should preferably be about 50 cm high, so that the outlasting buds are also protected. It is important to ensure regular watering, even in the cold season, to avoid a dried-out bale. Here, too, a layer of mulch has a positive effect, as it dries out less quickly. Winter sun and strong wind should be avoided.

Tip: Pine bark, such as our Plantura organic pine bark, can also be used to mulch the root area. It has a slightly acidic effect and improves the soil properties for the heather.

A layer of mulch in winter is helpful to ensure that the heather blooms next year

Propagation

Cuttings are a good way to propagate heather. To do this, cut off some 15 cm long shoots diagonally from the mother plant in summer between June and August with a sharp knife. Either only use fresh, this year's shoots or whole bunches of shoots with last year's wood. The shoots should not have flower buds, the lower leafletsbeing deleted. The cuttings are placed in acidic bog bed substrate and kept well moist. The humidity is kept high by putting a plastic bag over it. This also benefits the young plants.

The leaves of the bell heather are evergreen, needle-shaped and grey-green

Is heather poisonous?

The bell heather is not poisonous to humans or animals. It can therefore be planted in the garden without hesitation.

The bell heather blooms in summer and autumn. In a special article we have put together other plants that bloom in autumn for you.

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Garden Design