Deep crimson (H13) flowers, May-Oct, with dark green foliage. Outstanding mid-season plant, although it will continue flowering until the frosts. One of a number of seedlings found at Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland by William Buchanan. Ht. 31-45cm. Spd. 46-60cm.
A genus of two species of low evergreen shrubs, D. cantabrica found in W. Ireland, S.W. France and N.W. Iberia, and D. azorica emanating from the Azores. The hybrid, D. x scotica, is of garden origin.
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This small evergreen shrub, 20cm (8in) high spreading to 40cm (16in), is found in the Azores up to a height of 2000m (7000ft) but is only half hardy. The leaves are lanceolate, 5mm (1/5in) long, 5mm (1/5in) wide, dark green above, silver grey below and more recurved than D. cantabrica. The ruby crimson urceolate flowers are borne above the foliage in early summer. It is distinguished from D. cantabrica by the smaller leaves and the lack of hairs on the corolla. It prefers acid soil conditions. It is only suitable for zone 8 if given some protection.
This hardy evergreen sub-shrub, 40 x 70cm (16 x 28in), has glossy dark green lanceolate leaves, white on the underside, 1.5cm (2/3in) long, 6mm (1/4in) wide and normally lavender urceolate flowers, 1cm (3/8in) long, held in terminal racemes well above the rest of the plant from late June to October, which normally drop when finished.
It is thought this plant genus was named after Dabeoc, the youngest son of a Welsh chieftain who founded a monastery on an island in Lough Derg in Ireland. However, we do know that Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who formulated our present system of latin plant names, reversed the 'o' and 'e' when naming the genus, an error that has been perpetuated ever since.
This heather tends to have two flushes of flowers, the first in early summer and often another in early autumn which continues until frost occurs. The bell-like flowers range in colour from white through lavender to deep purple. It is a useful plant for ground cover and for intermixing with other dwarf shrubs such as western gorse (Ulex gallii) and is particularly effective when planted in drifts of mixed cultivars.
The plant tends to become straggly if not pruned annually. These plants can tolerate a little shade, are more resistant to drought than most heathers, are fully hardy and are best grown in acid conditions.
Daboecia cantabrica is suitable for hardiness zone 6 with protection but some winter damage can occur if planted in heavy ground or frost pockets.
This hybrid of garden origin between the two species above has the compactness of D. azorica and the hardiness of D. cantabrica. It reaches 20cm (8in) in height, spreading to 45cm (18in). The leaves are glossy dark green, smaller than those of D. cantabrica. It is ideal for ground cover in the smaller garden, flowering profusely between June and November. It is suitable for hardiness zone 6.
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© The Heather Society, 8 July 2003