It started when I bought a few of 'George Rendall' last late summer. Got really into the heath/heather world, and also got overwhelmed by the cultivars available. So I ordered the 'color all year' collection from heathsandheathers.com. Then in the spring I selected a few more favorites from the catalog. Then I added 2 more callunas I found locally that I liked.

So, here I have this bed of random heaths/heathers... growing away (more or less merrily -- aside from winter damage and one cinerea that got too dry). And I've been thinking, "Boy! Just wait till these are mature and filled in, this is gonna be great!"

But now I'm having second thoughts. If I had to do it over again (and, the one of the beauties of gardening is that given some time and patience, I do!), I think I would prefer to have fewer varieties, and to have them planted in groups of 3-5 of a variety together.

I think I might start working toward that. More of 'masses of color' effect. But I'll have to let things go as they are for a year or so yet... so I can decide which I'll 'mass' and where. See what my faves are, and which are growing best for me.

It sounds like you know and meet cultural requirements: moist acidic soil, good drainage, full sun, etc. So, as you begin to convert every spare acre you find to sweeps of heather, let me relay what experience has taught me. Since your post was interesting and fun to read, I hope I am not being redundant with what you already know or practice.

1. Heathers are easy to move. Dig wide and deep to get all their roots and to keep the rootball intact.
2. You might discover that transplanted heathers grow at a slower rate than their steadfast neighbors. Not to worry; they are simply re-establishing themselves. Keep them well watered after transplanting through that first summer.
3. Place plants according to their spread. That is, if the spread of a particular cultivar is 24" plant it 2' from others.
4. Shear all heathers (transplanted or not) in late winter or early spring—not before—to below their point of bloom from the previous year’s growth. Do this for at least their first three years. (I do it every year.) This induces fuller growth and prevents legginess with sparse growth and flowering.
5. Most important: after or as the ground freezes in early winter, cover them with evergreen boughs. This helps to prevent heaving and gives protection from scalding winter winds and sun. (In zone 5, I keep mine covered until mid April, even when I shear them a month earlier.)