Erica tetralix Alba

The 'Alba' Erica tetralix is a variety of marsh heather with white flowers. In cool tones, it complements the grey-green, silvery foliage. The plant forms a low, spreading ground cover that expands over time, less dense than other heathers. The texture of the foliage is velvety, as it is covered in down. The plant blooms for a long time, albeit not abundantly, in terminal clusters of small bells. Plant in acidic, well-drained and moist soil.

The Erica tetralix is a native species of Western Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the coastal climate. It is hardy down to -30º C. This species is attractive for its spreading habit, bright foliage, and charming pink flowering in summer. This small evergreen shrub, with a spreading habit, reaches about 20 cm in height and 30 cm in width at maturity, with a fairly slow growth rate. Its lifespan is around 10 to 15 years. It typically blooms between June and August depending on the climate, for several weeks. Its flowers are small pink urns that lighten in colour. These flowers, measuring 5 to 9 mm in length, are gathered in umbels, sparsely populated, with 5 to 12 pendulous flowers that are slightly fragrant and are carried at the tops of the stems, amidst thread-like, sessile leaves arranged in whorls of 4. The branches and foliage are covered in sticky glandular down that catches the light.

The 'Alba' variety presents a flowering of small white bells, gathered in terminal clusters, less abundant than in other heather species that bloom along the entire stem. However, it blooms for a long time, from June to October. It reaches 25 cm in height and 45 cm in width at maturity.

This 'Alba' marsh heather can be planted with other heathers to create beautiful carpets with diverse foliage and blooms. In a ericaceous bed, it makes an excellent ground cover, but it also works well with dwarf conifers, with which it harmonises in terms of foliage colour and texture. Its evergreen grey-green, downy foliage brings life to the foreground of beds or borders all year round, especially lovely with low blue-flowering plants like small campanulas or Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue', which is so charming.