John Ingram

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum has probably the best collection of Ericas in northern California, and I think there is a wholesale nursery up in either Mendocino or Sonoma county that specializes in them as well, (Manning's Heather Farm, I think it is called). There are also several species that are often see at the wholesale flower markets here, and mostly grown in greenhouses in Half Moon Bay. So there are Ericas already being grown here, but you just don't see them very often in gardens. I don't know much about raising them from seed, and must admit I have always been abit afraid to use them, thinking they are very touchy about growing conditions, short-lived in the landscape, and often times somewhat straggly looking after the first season. On top of all that, they are often more frost sensitive than many other Cape species, need fast draining acidic soils and are also intolerant of poor water quality, the same reason you see so few Proteas being grown where water supply is the saltier Colorado River.

I just looked up the lists for Suncrest Wholesale Nursery and San Marcos Growers, and between them they list E. canaliculata, E. carnea cultivars, and E. x darleyensis cultivars.

After traveling to Capetown, and seeing how many of the Ericas are used to growing up in and amongst other shrubs, the reason for their often straggly nature became apparent. Admittedly the diverse amount of flower types and colors is highly attractive, but not always the easiest plants to use in a more manicured garden setting. You will probably have better luck with most nearer the coast than in hotter inland areas with heavy clay soils, and I suspect will also have better luck with species growing at lower altitudes, the montane species may be intolerant of southern California's warmer winters.

It looks like most of the species I listed in the above post are not South African...

Additional South African species being grown at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco would include E. mollis, E. patersonia, E. persoluta, E. quadrangularis, E. simulans, in addition to the mediterranean and British species such as E. arborea, E. carnea, E. x darleyensis, E. herbacea, E. x hyemalis, E. simulans, E. x veitchii, and E. x watsonii. In looking through Strybing's list, it is apparent that many more Medtiterranean species and hybrids are being grown here in the SF Bay Area than South African ones, possibly due to frost sensitivity. I think Manning's Heather Farm also grows more European species and hybrids, (and there was an article in an old Pacific Horticulture/California Horticulture Society magazine on them).

I think the Santa Cruz collection was badly affected by the freeze back in 1998 and 1990, when they also lost many of their Leucopermums.

Ericas need to be kept moist as their root systems are situated just below soil level. Do not till the soil in the root area, but rather use a mulch to help keep the soil moist and cool as well as keeping weeds under control. Soil needs to have good drainage (fairly sandy) and have a ph of about 5.5. Fertilisers used should not contain any Phosphate (P) and be used at low dosages eg. 1 gram LAN to 1 litre of water. Ericas can be used as pot plants to good effect.