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Irish Heath Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Irish Heath

Daboecia cantabrica

Solitude and admiration.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Daboecia
Native to
Ireland, Western Europe, Atlantic coast of Europe
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
20-50 cm
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
acidic, peaty, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
5-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The genus is named after St. Dabeoc, an early Irish saint associated with the wild heathlands of Connemara.
  • Irish heath has the largest flowers of any European heath, with bell-shaped blooms up to 14 mm long.
  • The plant is a key component of the Connemara bogs, one of Ireland's most iconic landscapes.
  • Unlike most heaths, Daboecia sheds its flowers whole rather than keeping them dried on the plant.
  • It is the only species in its genus native to Europe, making it botanically distinctive among heathers.

Color meanings

0

solitude

1

protection

2

admiration

Uses

  • ornamental
  • heather gardens
  • ground cover
  • rock gardens