Erica x darleyensis ‘Ghost Hills’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – A long-blooming winter heather (late winter into spring) with light purplish-pink flowers that are darker near the tips. These are contrasted against light green foliage that emerges in spring with cream highlights. This Award of Garden Merit winner grows 18″ high by 36″ wide. Hardy to zone 6.

Erica x darleyensis ‘Mary Helen’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – The perfect combination of beautiful flowers and attractive foliage with February to April bright pink blooms contrasted nicely by yellow to gold needles. The foliage also picks up bronze to maroon highlights in winter. ‘Mary Helen’ has good vigour and makes a fine groundcover. Grows 10″ high by 18″ wide. Zone 6.

Erica darleyensis ‘Furzey’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – This Award of Garden Merit winner features dark lilac-pink flowers (from November to May) over deep green foliage. ‘Furzey’ is also quite floriferous and the bloom colour darkens with age. The foliage emerges with pink tips in spring. Grows 15″ high by 24″ wide. Hardy to zone 6.

Erica carnea ‘Rosalie’ – As with all Erica carnea, ‘Rosalie’ is quite compact, making it a good choice as a low profile groundcover. It is an Award of Garden Merit winner with bright rosy-pink blooms from January to April. The flowers are nicely contrasted by the deep bronze-green foliage. ‘Rosalie’ grows an average of 6″ high by 18″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.

Erica x darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’ (Erica carnea x Erica erigena) – An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with long-blooming (November to May) magenta-pink flowers. The new spring growth is cream-coloured, so be sure the faded blooms are pruned away before they emerge. ‘Arthur Johnson’ grows 18″ high by 30″ wide. Hardy to zone 6.