Brian Minter: Heather is one of the most beautiful, but often overlooked, plants

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

We’re all looking for colour to enjoy over the fall and winter months ahead and most gardeners want something that is versatile — easy-to-grow, offers a good colour palette, and combines well with other plants in the garden.

One of the most beautiful, but often overlooked, plants is the erica or winter flowering heather family.

Today’s new introductions are compact, offer many shades of foliage colour, feature a vibrant selection of flowering shades, and many will bloom for months at a time.

Many ericas are beginning to show colour already since our recent warm weather encouraged early budding. By selecting numerous varieties, you can easily enjoy a sequence of colour from October into May, and that’s something few other plants can do.

Once established, ericas are easy to care for, but do not like wet feet or extreme drafts. The secret is the right soil blend. Erica roots are very fine and need to be gently ruffled up when being transplanted into well drained, open, porous soil. They are acid loving, so a generous mix of finely ground up fir or hemlock bark mulch worked into the planting hole is essential.

Avoid heavy clay soils if possible, because remediation will be necessary. At the very least, open up the soil with the fir/hemlock fine mulch or sawdust. Even in containers, heathers need a good porous shrub or perennial soil mix which should be slightly acidic. Fine bark, mixed with peat moss and some sharp sand is a great blend to encourage new root development and to help them become established more quickly.

Be sure to water well until they