White Perfection Heath

White Perfection Heath has dainty, white, bell-shaped flowers with brilliant plum-colored tips. This low-maintenance, shrubby perennial makes a beautiful groundcover for sunny spots in the garden or a lovely filler element in a mixed seasonal container planting. The deep green of the evergreen foliage is the perfect backdrop for not just spring-blooming bulbs but also summer perennials and fall foliage. Late-winter blooming of heathers is one sure sign of spring being around the corner.

Erica x darlyensis ‘White Perfection’ is a winter-blooming heather, technically known as a heath, that remains in bloom for what seems to be weeks. Early-season native bees and other pollinators are drawn to the nectar as they begin foraging for the year. White Perfection Heath is not troubled by pests or disease, and deer rarely browse in the dense spiky foliage. Heath has a natural mounded growth habit that is fantastic for suppressing weeds and acting like a living mulch for taller plants that prefer that their roots stay cool. Plant White Perfection with daffodils, red twig dogwood, and hellebores for a garden that has interest from winter to late spring.

White Perfection Heath Care

Heaths and heathers prefer acidic soil that is rich but also well draining. Heavy clay or loose sandy soil must be amended with compost before planting White Perfection. The best time for planting is early in the spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Container-grown heath can be planted any time during the year. Fertilize heath late in the summer or early fall to prepare for winter blooming. Use a granular formulation for acid-loving plants.

White Perfection Heath will require pruning back after the flowers have finished in late spring or early winter. Shear the whole plant back by one-third, maintaining the gentle, mounded shape without cutting heavily into the woody parts of the branches. Yearly shearing will help to keep heaths and heathers from dying out in the middle. White Perfection Heath is cold hardy in USDA zones 6-8 and needs little protection during the winter. Heaths planted in containers require excellent drainage throughout the year and should be moved to a more protected location in the winter. 

White Perfection Heath Spacing

The mature height of White Perfection is 12-18 inches with a spread of 18-30 inches. Space plants 24 inches apart when growing this winter heather as a groundcover or a drift. Potted heaths require at least a 10-inch diameter pot.