Depending on the species and origin, the bell heather is not at all or only partially hardy. The Cape heath or Erica gracilis, which comes from South Africa, dies at temperatures below around -6 °C. The European Erica tetralix tolerates at least light frost.
Is the bell heather hardy?
The bell heather (Erica) is hardy differently depending on the species: the Erica gracilis from South Africa cannot tolerate temperatures below -6 °C, while the European Erica tetralix tolerates light frost. In winter, store brightly, frost-free and at 5-10 °C and always keep the bale moist.
How should I care for my bell heather in winter?
The bell heather cannot tolerate a dried out ball at any time of the year. So it needs to be watered regularly even in winter. However, this is only possible outside on frost-free days. If your bell heather dies during the winter, it may not have frozen to death as you might think, but rather died of thirst.
Don't water the Erica too much, otherwise its roots will start to rot. However, you do not need to fertilize all types of bell heather during the winter break. You can stop doing this shortly after flowering.
The ideal winter quarters for the Glockenheide
Bell heather is not exactly one of the most expensive garden plants. Therefore, they do not always overwinter. It's easier and cheaper to buy new plants next year. If the bell heather serves as grave planting, it often remains there over the winter before being disposed of.
If you still want to overwinter your bell heather, perhaps because you have an unusually beautifully colored variety, then this is possible without too much effort. If you like, you can enjoy the bell heather in your home for a while before moving the plant to the cooler winter quarters.
The winter quarters for the bell heather should be bright and frost-free. Temperatures around 5 °C to 10 °C are ideal. The Irish bell heather can also tolerate lower temperatures. A darker basement room is not particularly suitable; a cool winter garden or a frost-free greenhouse would be better.
The most important things in brief:
- Erica gracilis not winter hardy
- take it out of the garden before the first frosts
- bring to a bright, frost-free winter quarters
- ideal temperature in winter: approx. 5 °C to 10 °C
- water only enough so that the bale does not dry out
- do not fertilize
Tip
Before you bring your bell heather to its cool winter quarters, you can keep the plant in the (not too warm) apartment for a few weeks.
