More on Ericas

    Hello Moira, 

    and thank you for your information concerning South African ericas in New 
Zealand. It's good to know that everyone seems agreed that E.canaliculata is 
the hardiest species. Was yours the white- or pink-flowered form? I don't 
know which mine is, since it has not yet reached flowering size; I prefer it 
in its white form, which means that it will almost certainly be pink!

    I don't myself grow any of the European species, since I find them rather 
boring, though nowhere near as deadly as the mass-produced dwarf bedding 
heathers. Well, they may not be marketed as bedding plants, but that's what 
they are in reality. The South Africans are far more glamorous in my opinion, 
which means that they won't be as easy. A similar family in this respect is 
Moraea; the ones which are hardy here and easily grown are basically 
variations on yellow irises, whereas the iridescent multi-coloured dwarfer 
species are a pig to germinate, and a pig to keep going, even under glass.

    Interesting that ericas strike best in winter. The same, I'm told, is 
true of olearias, which means that I'll have to get down to it very shortly, 
before spring arrives. 

    I also had a message, in a private capacity, from a former subscriber in 
California, who enclosed a list of ericas which Rod Saunders thought would be 
the 'hardiest'. It's interesting to see that bauera, mammosa, perziza and 
regia are all included , but you had no luck with them? The list amounts to 
over 40 species, so if you're interested, let me know.

    I'm just sending off to Silverhill for seed of about 6 species, to 'have 
a go'. Apparently, the recent fires in S.A. may well mean that erica seed 
will be in short supply for a few years after this year. 

    The Saunders list most of their ericas as zone 8. I'm not sure how 
infallible this zoning system really is, and am firmly of the opinion that 
sharp drainage is more critical to plant survival than just minimum 
temperatures. I see that they have Pittosporum viridiflorum and Begonia 
sutherlandii as zone 10, yet the former has survived this winter so far, as 
small seedlings in pots outside, albeit right next to the house; the begonia 
came sailing through last winter (dormant), and flowered merrily from July to 
the first frost, as did its attendant bulbil babies (I can't grow this as 
house plant at all, yet it's supposed to be 'easy'...!)


        Einion Hughes,
        Rhyl, Wales.
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