Erica × darleyensis 'Golden Perfect' (Heather)

Erica × darleyensis 'Golden Perfect' (Heather), 'Golden Perfect', 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.