Erica gracilis

Plant in spring or during autumn. Set the plants deeply so that the whole of the stem is buried and the foliage rests on the soil. On dry soil, add peat round the roots.

Take semi- ripe cuttings from this season's growth in Autumn. Cut neatly, just below a leaf node, a 5" approx. piece of a healthy shoot that has soft growth at the tip. pinch out the growing tip, and cut off the bottom leaves. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, and carefully place in a pot of cutting compost with the leaves just above the level of the compost. Water, label, cover with a polythene bag, and place in a warm, bright place, out of direct sunlight. Take the polythene bag off periodically for a while for ventilation (at least twice a week)

The flowers are produced in racemes in late winter to early spring,and often starting to flower while the plant is still covered in snow. The individual flower is a slender bell-shape.