Erica Tetralix, Cross Leaved Heath
A good choice for an ericaceous border as an ornamental addition or to attract pollinators to your garden/1,000 acre moorland.
It is native to the UK and is often found on heathland (land owned by someone called Heath?), moors (so we assume it doesn't perform well on less's, whatever they might be) and plant websites like this one.
Shrubby in habit and widespread throughout much of Britain particularly in central and eastern England.
A great choice as an alternative to Common Heather, Calluna vulgaris or Bell Heather, Erica cinerea, if the site is wet.
Erica Tetralix, Cross Leaved Heath Flowers
Appearing in summer and autumn, small pink bell-shaped flowers droop in compact clusters at the ends of the shoots (plant shoots not photoshoots)
Erica Tetralix, Cross Leaved Heath Leaves
Glandular narrow green-grey leaves and arranged in fours around the stem.
Planting Erica Tetralix, Cross Leaved Heath
Requires an acidic soil.
Random Information About Erica Tetralix, Cross Leaved Heath
Native to Western Europe.
The sticky glands on leaves and other parts of the plant prompted Charles Darwin to suggest that this species might be a protocarnivorous plant, but as no Cross Leaved heath (that we know of) has trapped Lions, Tigers, Elephants etc we cannot say for sure.
A yellow dye can be prepared from it and, as with many other heaths, Besoms (brroms) can be made from the pliable woody stem and was regularly used for fire fighting. We suspect the invention of fire engines and CO2 extinguishers may have had some impact on the Besom industry.
Erica Tetralix can become a dominant part of the flora in bogs, wet heaths, and damp coniferous woodland.
There does not appear to be a medicinal use for the plant unless you count handing someone their Covid vaccine on the end of a Besom as such.
What Our Customers Are Saying About Erica Tetralix, Cross leaved Heath
No one has commented yet, maybe because they are busy staring at the pink flowers or wondering how they are going to get that lion out of the garden.
Delivery
Due to courier unpredictability, we advise having your trees delivered AT LEAST 3 days before you actually need them.
Returning Cell Grown Trees
For Phytosanitary reasons, cell grown trees cannot be returned to the nursery.
Delaying Planting Cell Grown Trees
If you cannot plant straight away, take the trees out of the packaging and stand upright next to each other in a sheltered location outside. November to March, no need to water unless they start to dry out and these would be ok for up to 6 weeks. During Spring and Summer, you can do this for up to 3 weeks.
Feeding Or Fertilizing
This is a task that can easily be over done. Any nitrogen based fertilizer will do such as 20:20:10 but the longer lasting ones which take 18/24 months are better as they are regulated by the weather and moisture therefore release slowly.
Multiple Order Discount
Orders over £1000 can be discounted by contacting us on 0800 043 1057
Do I Need To Stake My Shrubs?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
UK Grown Shrubs
All our shrubs are UK grown and not allowed to holiday overseas to ensure we can stand by this statement.
