Plant of the Week: Erica (heather)

The sight of wild moorlands colouring brilliant purple in winter is unforgettable. Now you can have that wild beauty in your own garden with this star performer for borders and containers.

Erica makes a compact, evergreen shrub that thrives on poor soil, so doesn’t need feeding, and even tolerates neutral soil – most heathers demand acidic conditions but Ericas are more forgiving.

From November until April you’ll be rewarded with a sparkling carpet of flowers in brilliant white, pretty pink or carmine red. They’re rich with nectar, too, so early bumblebees adore feasting on their sweetness. A trim after flowering keeps them neat and handsome all year round.