Within the very species-rich heather family, there are many species that are now native to German gardens and balconies, but not all of them are hardy here. The two most common heather plants, the common heather and the winter or snow heather, are generally very insensitive to German winters.
Are heather species hardy?
Since German gardens and balconies are often home to common heather (Calluna vulgaris) and winter or snow heather (Erica carnea), it is important to know that both plants are well hardy. Only plants in planters on the balcony need protection to prevent root frost.
Winter blooming heather in the garden and on the balcony
Winter heather or snow heather is particularly popular, as it brings color into the cold season as a winter bloomer. The plant originally comes from the mountains of southern and central Europe, where it can be found growing wild at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters. As a result, the snow heath is ideally adapted to cold and frosty weather due to its natural origin. The plant only needs light winter protection on the balcony so that the roots in the planters do not freeze so quickly.
Hardy heather
In the table below you will find an overview of commonly sold heather plants, some of which are very hardy, but some of which are only partially hardy. In this context, “conditionally hardy” means that the plants need suitable protection in winter. In very cold regions it is best to bring them in over the winter and overwinter frost-free. In such a case, good winter protection can consist of spruce or fir branches, which are simply covered over the plants or in their root area on the ground.
| Heather species | Latin name | Winter hardiness |
|---|---|---|
| Broom Heath | Calluna vulgaris | good |
| Winterheide | Erica carnea | good |
| Heathland | Erica spiculifolia | good |
| Bell Heath | Erica tetralix | good |
| Grape Heath | Erica vagans | conditionally |
| Gray Heath | Erica cinerea | conditionally |
| English Heath | Erica x darleyensis | conditionally |
| Oldenburg Heath | Erica x oldenburgensis | frost hardy down to -15 °C |
| crowberry | Empetrum nigrum | very good |
| Irish Heath | Daboecia cantabrica | conditionally |
| Tree Heath | Erica arborea | conditionally |
Tip
Prune the snow and heather after the flowering period so that the plants do not become bare from below and continue to sprout vigorously in the next period.
