Create Your Garden

Erica carnea ‘Golden Starlet’ (Winter Heath)

Winter Heath 'Golden Starlet', Heather 'Golden Starlet', Snow Heath 'Golden Starlet', Spring Heath 'Golden Starlet', Alpine Heath 'Golden Starlet', Erica carnea f. alba 'Golden Starlet'

AGM Award
Erica Carnea 'Golden Starlet', Winter Heath 'Golden Starlet', Heather 'Golden Starlet', Snow Heath 'Golden Starlet', Spring Heath 'Golden Starlet', Alpine Heath 'Golden Starlet', White Heath, White Heather

Noted for its golden foliage, award-winning Erica carnea ‘Golden Starlet’ is a prostrate evergreen shrub of neat, compact, spreading habit, with profuse, urn-shaped, pure white flowers borne in short racemes, from early winter to late spring (Dec-May). They beautifully smother the needle-like, lime-green foliage, which turns glowing yellow in summer before changing back to lime-green in winter. Great at providing winter color, this low-growing, evergreen shrub creates an excellent ground cover for sunny locations while requiring little care.

  • Grows in an attractive mound, up to 4-6 in. tall (10-15 cm) and 12-18 in. across (30-45 cm).
  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
  • Performs best in full sun in sandy, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Part shade is welcomed in hot summer areas. Newly planted Heath can dry out quickly once planted, so it is important to water regularly and thoroughly when the plant is young.
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to rock gardens, groundcover, slopes, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, or containers. Plant in groups for the best visual impact.
  • Produces nectar that attracts bees on mild winter days, but is ignored by deer!
  • Virtually disease and pest free, but watch for powdery mildew, root rot, rust, and wilt.
  • Plants may be sheared lightly after flowers fade, but not any later since flower buds are formed during the summer. Annual light shearing promotes a bushier plant.

One of the hardiest of Heathers, Erica carnea is native to the Alps of Central Europe. It is loved for its early bloom and evergreen presence and forms bristling mats of pink, white, purple or red blooms which are at their best with the early spring bulbs such as crocus, scillas and dwarf irises.

How to Grow and Care for Heath and Heather


Evergreen, Heathers (Calluna Vulgaris) and Heaths (Erica) are terrific plants that deserve a spot in the garden. Their fabulous ability to change color year-round, injecting vivid life into our landscape at a time when they need it most, is invaluable. Low maintenance, deer or salt resistant, winter hardy, drought tolerant (once established) and fairly easy to grow, they do not require much: decent drainage and some sunshine.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 5 - 7
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ericaceae
Genus Erica
Common names Heather, Winter Heath
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Winter
Height 4" - 6"
(10cm - 15cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Erica (Heath)
Guides with
Erica (Heath)
Not sure which Erica (Heath) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Erica x darleyensis ‘White Perfection’ (Winter Heath)
Erica carnea ‘March Seedling’ (Winter Heath)
Erica carnea ‘Springwood Pink’ (Winter Heath)
Erica x darleyensis ‘Margaret Porter’ (Winter Heath)
Erica carnea ‘Ice Princess’ (Winter Heath)
Erica x darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’ (Winter Heath)

Recommended Companion Plants

Helleborus Winter Jewels ‘Amethyst Gem’ (Hellebore)
Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Bloodtwig Dogwood)
Carex comans ‘Frosted Curls’ (New Zealand Hair Sedge)
Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (‘Autumn Joy’)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

45 Terrific Shrubs for Stunning Container Gardens
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
Pretty Flowers for your Winter Garden
Heath and Heather
How to Grow and Care for Heath and Heather
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 5 - 7
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ericaceae
Genus Erica
Common names Heather, Winter Heath
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Winter
Height 4" - 6"
(10cm - 15cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Erica (Heath)
Guides with
Erica (Heath)
Not sure which Erica (Heath) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Erica carnea ‘Golden Starlet’ (Winter Heath) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Erica carnea ‘Golden Starlet’ (Winter Heath) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone