Italian Heather

Answer 1

I have just been searching for this plant on the internet, myself, as I received one for mother's day this year.  What I found: sometimes called "Italian Heather," it is also called "Mediterranean Heather."  Botanical name is Erica darleyensis.  Do a search on the botanical name.  gardenguides.com has a very nice how-to page on this plant.  In addition to what they say, I found info saying that heaths and heathers tend to prefer acidic soils, found one page that said this particular heather tolerates lime soils.  Mine got dried out before the giver gave it to me.  At eHow.com, their entry includes what to do with one that might have died due to "winter kill" - I will try cutting mine back to see if it will come back.  Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I ust received an Italian Heather Plant and I would like to use it as a house or porch plant.  How much sun should it get.  The porch only gets morning sun until about 11a.m.  Is that enough?  Can it take the heat of the summer?   bette