Create Your Garden

Erica cinerea ‘Velvet Night’ (Bell Heather)

Bell Heather 'Velvet Night'

AGM Award
Erica Cinerea 'Velvet Night', Bell Heather 'Velvet Night',Purple Heath, Purple Heather, Bell Heathers

Award-winning Erica cinerea ‘Velvet Night’ is a dwarf evergreen shrub creating a colorful mat of dark green foliage with deep blackish-purple flowers in racemes from late spring to early fall (Jun-Sep).

  • Grows up to 10 in. tall (25 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm).
  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
  • Performs best in full sun in sandyacidicmedium moisturewell-drained soils. Do not let soils dry out! Provide a site sheltered from strong winds which could desiccate their foliage. Drought tolerant once established.
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to rock gardensslopescoastal gardens, cottage gardens, or containers. Excellent ground cover and perfect for edging!
  • Generally pest free. May be affected by Phytophthora root diseases
  • Need annual pruning, or they become straggly. Prune below the flowers on the stems after flowering in fall or early spring.
  • Erica cinerea, also known as Bell Heather or Twisted Heath, are attractive and spectacular in bloom. These evergreen shrubs form mounding, spreading, low bushes, 6-18 in tall (15-45 cm), bursting into vivid colors as they get covered with hundreds of bell-shaped flowers. They enjoy a very long blooming season extending from late spring to early fall and bear the most eye-catching flowers of all heathers. Colors range from white to almost black while their foliage varies from gold to very dark green. Native to Western Europe, southwestern Norway, southern Portugal, and northwestern Italy. Similarly to Callunas, they need annual pruning, or they become straggly. Prune below the flowers on the stems after flowering in fall or early spring. Hardy to Zone 5 and warmer.

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 6 - 8
Heat Zones 6 - 8
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ericaceae
Genus Erica
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 9" - 10"
(23cm - 25cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" - 30"
(60cm - 80cm)
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 Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Coastal Garden
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 ‘Golden Starlet’ (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)

Recommended Companion Plants

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ (Coral Bells)
Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’ (Oriental Fountain Grass)

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 6 - 8
Heat Zones 6 - 8
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ericaceae
Genus Erica
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 9" - 10"
(23cm - 25cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" - 30"
(60cm - 80cm)
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 Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Coastal Garden
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 cinerea ‘Velvet Night’ (Bell Heather) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Erica cinerea ‘Velvet Night’ (Bell Heather) 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