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Erica tetralix
  • Bog Heather

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Erica genus in the family Ericaceae.

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Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Erica tetralix has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Erica tetralix.

Material uses

Stems are used for making brooms, brushes etc[1].

A yellow dye is obtained from the plant[2][3].

Plants can be grown as a ground cover[4]. They should be clipped in the spring in order to encourage denser growth[4].

Unknown part

Broom
Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Erica tetralix.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a sandy compost in a cold frame in spring. Keep moist. Prick out the plants as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them in their permanent positions when they are 5 - 8cm tall[5].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm long taken from twiggy lateral growths near the base of the plant, July/August in a frame. Remove the leaves from the bottom part of the stem without causing any damage to the bark. The cuttings root in a few weeks if they are given some bottom heat. Plant out in spring[5].

Layering in spring or autumn. Plants can be 'dropped' and then dug up and divided about 6 - 12 months later. Dropping involves digging up the plant and then replanting it about 15 - 20cm deeper in the soil to encourage roots to form along the stems[6].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Erica tetralix. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a light lime-free loam[7]. A calcifuge plant, requiring a pH below 6[8]. Grows best in a poor soil[5]. Resents dry soils[7], doing well in boggy areas[8]. Prefers an open situation[7].

A good bee plant[9]. There are many named forms, selected for their ornamental value[10].

Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[11].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Erica tetralix. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Erica tetralix.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Erica tetralix
Genus
Erica
Family
Ericaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1][2][3][4]
Botanic
[5][12][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Soil surface
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.3 x 0.45 meters
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
Insects, Self
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:EricatetBlüte3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:EricatetBlüte3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae. ()
  2. ? 2.02.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.2 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  6. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold (1979-00-00)
  9. ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)
  10. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  12. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

"image:EricatetBlüte3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Erica_tetralix&oldid=77103"
Facts about "Erica tetralix"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyEricaceae +
Belongs to genusErica +
Functions asGround cover +
Has common nameBog Heather +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Insects + and Self +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone3 +
Has imageEricatetBlüte3.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBroom + and Dye +
Has mature height0.3 +
Has mature width0.45 +
Has primary imageEricatetBlüte3.jpg +
Has search nameerica tetralix + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid + and Neutral +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameErica tetralix +
Has water requirementshigh +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +