Winter heath
Erica carnea
Also called Alpine heath, Snow heath and Erica 'Springwood White'
Garden plant · ShrubsThe heather that does not need acid soil, and it flowers from December to April when nothing else on the ground does. Shear it over after flowering, every year, or it goes bald in the middle by year four.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Very hardy RHS H7, to -25°C
- Size
- 0.25 m tall · 0.5 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- The Alps and the mountains of central Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.