Prickly Heath

A compact, bushy, evergreen shrub that produces clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring or early summer. These are followed by an abundance of showy, globose berries (up to 1.5 cm across) in shades of white, pink, red, lilac, or deep purple that last through winter.

Pollination Prickly heath is typically a dioecious plant, meaning individual plants are either male or female. To ensure the female plants produce berries, a male plant must be planted nearby to provide pollen.

Growing Conditions It thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soil (ericaceous compost is ideal) in a position of partial shade. It struggles in alkaline or chalky soils.