Erica carnea 'December Red' (Winter Heath)

Erica carnea 'December Red' (Winter Heath), 'December Red', is valued for its evergreen presence and seasonal bloom in PNW gardens.

Heaths (Erica) are low evergreen ericaceous shrubs prized for tiny needle-like leaves and clouds of urn-shaped flowers. Winter and spring bloomers fill the cold-season gap when little else flowers.

Full sun to part sun suits this species. Plant in well-drained, acidic, lean to humus-rich soil. Hardy USDA Zone 5 to 8. Plant high in well-drained acid soil; shear lightly after bloom to keep compact. Drought-tolerant once established but resents wet feet. Watch for root rot in heavy or saturated soils.

For a Pacific Northwest native low-evergreen shrub of similar character, consider Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick) , evergreen mat with urn-shaped pink flowers and red berries, or Gaultheria shallon (Salal) for a taller native woodland-edge evergreen with edible berries.