White heather (Erica umbellata)
Today we will talk about the Erica umbellata, a plant that stands out for being really beautiful not only to decorate interiors, but also exteriors; which is also called White Heather, so if you want to know all the details about its characteristics, habitat, care, etc., we invite you to continue reading so that you can use it to beautify your garden/ home.
Characteristics of White Heather
Belonging to the Ericaceae family, the genus Erica is made up of bushes of more than 700 different species from not only Europe and Africa, but also from the Mediterranean basin; Species of this genus include Erica australis (Red Heather), Erica multiflora (Heather) and of course, Erica arborea (White Heather).
The white heather consists of a high shrub which has abundant branches, which usually reach around 2-4m in height and have flowers that stand out for being really beautiful, especially to use as an ornamental plant. Likewise, within its main characteristics we can mention the following:
Its leaves are erect-patent and are arranged in whorls of 3 by 3, they have a linear and lanceolate shape, being so revolutionary that they hardly allow to appreciate the underside; Furthermore, their upper surface is usually hairy while they are young and they are also characterized by being ciliated.
Its flowers stand out for being gathered in terminal inflorescences that have an umbel-like appearance, each one has about 3-6 ovoid flowers and they do not present any basal involvement; Furthermore, its pedicels are reddish or yellowish-brown in color, which measure around 5mm, are distinguished by being pubescent and have 3-4 bracteoles of approximately 1.5mm.
Its calyx is composed of sepals that measure around 2mm, slightly free, with an oblong-lanceolate shape; They are green in color, have glandular hairs, being also sub-eyed and ciliated.
Its corolla is sub-cylindrical or urceolate, measuring around 3.5-5.5mm, it has a purple or pink tone that is white at some point; at its end it has 5 patent or upright lobes of approximately 0.4mm.
Its androecium has stamens that have anthers that measure approximately 1-2 mm, slightly exerted, free of appendages and dorsifixes, which in certain cases tend to appear bounced. Its gynoecium has a glabrous ovary that has a style that measures around 5mm, quite short and thin, which culminates in a capitate, discoidal stigma that usually dilates in its flowering season.
Habitat of the Erica umbellata
White heather grows on lean and impoverished siliceous soils, preferably sandy, in areas with a mild and slightly humid climate. Therefore, from the area of the dunes and sub-coastal sands, its habitat rises until it surpasses approximately an altitude of 1,300 meters.
Care
If you want to grow this shrub in your garden, you need to take into account certain factors that allow you to ensure its proper growth. To begin, it is essential that you make sure you have soil that has good drainage, since when planting it in a land that does not favor drainage, it will end up causing water crowding problems, and when the soil is flooded, it is very likely that the roots drown and end up dying, since it does not allow the plant to have good aeration and consequently, this affects its proper development.
In the same way, it is essential that you keep in mind that you should not plant this plant in calcareous soils ; In addition, when you want to transplant it, it will be necessary to do it during the spring or throughout the autumn, since in these times, despite the higher rainfall, there is usually a temperature high enough to allow this shrub to adjust correctly to its conditions.
Regarding its irrigation, it is necessary that you do not forget that you will have to water the white heather in a moderate way, since being a plant capable of withstanding periods of drought well, it is not necessary that you worry much about it, always and when the soil has a good drainage system and is almost completely dry.
Actually, it is usually best to water this plant when you see that the substrate is completely dry. In addition, in order to achieve a better development of your Erica umbellata, it is advisable that you provide it with a good compost when autumn arrives, betting either on natural compost or mulch.
Maintenance
The Erica umbellata stands out for being a type of shrub that does not require great maintenance, although it is always advisable to carry out some pruning in order to get rid of both the oldest branches and those flower spikes that are withered.
You have to carry out these prunings at the end of spring, since at this time there is a better time and, as we already mentioned, the plant will be able to adapt to its new conditions to a greater extent. Under no circumstances is it appropriate for you to prune if a frost is possible, as otherwise the white heather could die.
Finally, we can say that because it is a fairly simple type of plant to grow, which has great resistance, it is not common for it to present problems due to pests or any type of diseases. That is the reason why it turns out to be an ideal shrub to grow in gardens; In addition, it is possible to multiply it through seeds during the spring or through cuttings when the summer ends.
Applications
In relation to the uses of this plant, it is possible that we point out that it has several traditional uses, highlighting among them the elaboration of brooms, which used to be done frequently in ancient times, due to the thin and dense branches with which account is ideal for sweeping. In the same way, it used to be used for the purpose of creating certain roofs, palisades and shelters against rain, wind and sun, as well as to achieve greater privacy.
Due to its multiple branches, the firewood it has turns out to be used as a high quality fuel, at the same time that it is totally suitable for making charcoal in forges and ovens. Likewise, its wood is often highly sought after among turners and cabinetmakers in order to use it in various sizes.
Now that you know more about white heather, would you like to use it to decorate your garden? If so, then do not forget to take into account the care that we have previously mentioned.
