Erica 'Darleyensis' Red (Pot Size 10.5cm) sold by Boma Garden Centre

Erica × darleyensis, often marketed as Winter Heath, is a delightful evergreen shrub that brings colour to the garden when many plants are quiet. Its neat, bushy habit and needle-like foliage form a tidy mound, topped from late autumn through to early spring with masses of urn-shaped blooms. Available in soft pink, pure white and rich red-toned flower shades, this heath offers a choice of colour to complement your scheme. The blooms provide a vibrant contrast against the dark green foliage and can be planted en masse for impact or as an edging in borders and rock gardens. In a container or tucked into a mixed bed with dwarf conifers, grasses or other winter-flowering plants (such as hellebores or dwarf rhododendrons), it provides structure and interest when little else is flowering. Tough and versatile, it thrives in a variety of garden spots and is particularly useful in cooler seasons when you want reliable colour.