Erica tetralix Con Underwood - Cross-leaved heath

The 'Con Underwood' Erica tetralix is a variety of marsh heather with darker flowers than the species. It has beautiful grey-green foliage, with small hairy leaves that give it an attractive velvety texture. The plant blooms for a long time, though not abundantly, in terminal clusters of magenta pink flowers. It forms a spreading and spreading ground cover with silvery reflections in the sun, in soil that is acidic, well-drained, and moist.

The Erica tetralix is a native species of Western Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the maritime climate. It is hardy down to -30º C. This species is attractive for its spreading habit, bright foliage, and charming pink flowering in summer. This small evergreen shrub, with a spreading habit, will reach approximately 20 cm in height and 30 cm in width at maturity, with a fairly slow growth rate. Its lifespan is about 10 to 15 years. It typically blooms between June and August depending on the climate, for several weeks. Its flowers are small pink urns that lighten in colour. These flowers, measuring 5 to 9 mm in length, are grouped in sparse umbels of 5 to 12 pendulous flowers, slightly fragrant, and are carried at the tops of the stems, amidst sessile, thread-like leaves arranged in whorls of 4. The branches and foliage are covered in sticky glandular hairs that catch the light.

The 'Con Underwood' variety was collected in the wild in Surrey, England by Mrs. C. Underwood in 1938 and introduced by the G. Underwood & Son nursery in 1948. It has flowers of a darker colour than the original form, in magenta pink. It reaches 25 cm in height and 45 cm in width at maturity.

This 'Con Underwood' marsh heather creates a beautiful contrast between the magenta pink of its flowers and the silvery reflections of its foliage. It can be planted with other heathers to form beautiful mats with diverse foliage and blooms. In an ericaceous bed, it makes an excellent ground cover, but it also pairs well with dwarf conifers, creating a play of foliage colour and texture. Its persistent grey-green, velvety foliage adds interest to the foreground of a bed or border all year round, especially beautiful with low-growing blue-flowered plants like small campanulas or 'Georgia Blue' Speedwell, which is so lovely.