Daboecia

( dab - oh - EESH - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

These shrubs are native to Europe, and prefer partial shade (or full sun in cooler climates) and regular water to perform well in the garden. These are slightly spreading plants with dark green leaves and pinkish, egg-shaped flowers that hang from stems in narrow clusters in late spring and early fall. Flowers are typically white, red, or pink. They are commonly called Irish Heath or St. Daboec's Heath. Bees and other pollinators will frequent these shrubs in the landscape. Plant Daboecia in mixed beds or borders, along pathways, in containers, or as members of pollinator gardens.

daboecia Species and Varietals

The genus Daboecia includes two species and is closely related to the genus Erica. Both are members of the family Ericaceae. The two species in the genus (Daboecia azorica and Daboecia cantabrica) have been hybridized to produce shrubs with varying sizes and flower colors; listed below. Irish Heath grows best in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 or Sunset growing zones 3b-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Daboecia cantabrica alba
White flowering shrub.
'Waley's Red'
​Magenta blooms.
'Cinderella'
With bicolored white and pink flowers and gray-green leaves.
'Silverwells'
​With grey-green foliage and bright white flowers on a low-growing plant.
'William Buchanan'
Low-grower (up to 10 inches tall) and reddish purple blossoms.
'William Buchanan Gold'
Low-grower that has yellow-variegated foliage.

Caring for daboecia

Daboecia plants can be purchased at reputable nurseries or grown from seed. Plant Daboecia in a space in the landscape that is protected from strong winds and receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Plant about a foot apart for best coverage and airflow. In warm climates, ensure that these shrubs get some afternoon shade when temperatures are at their peak. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 4.0 and 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants require moderate, regular watering, usually about once or twice a week.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Cut plants down to their base in early springtime after the danger of frost has passed; they will rebound in the same season with new foliage and abundant flowers. Daboecia plants are perennial plants, and can last for between 15 and 20 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Daboecia in Containers
​Daboecia shrubs do well in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least 16-24 inches in diameter and depth. Ensure that the container has adequate drainage holes in the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away from the root zone. Fill the container with a well-draining potting mix, and apply mulch around the base of the plant to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly to keep soil moderately moist; Daboecias grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. Remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Cut plants down to their base in early springtime after the danger of frost has passed; they will rebound in the same season with new foliage and abundant flowers.

Propagation

Daboecia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Daboecia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Daboecia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, and if you are attempting to grow a hybrid variety from seed, that the seeds may not be viable. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. Once the seed pods have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-3 months from sowing.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Daboecia shrubs do not suffer from pest or disease issues, though they can be susceptible to the following if growing conditions are not ideal:
  • Root Rot
  • Vine Weevil Larvae
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
For information on commonly encountered pests and diseases in the home garden, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Irish Heath adds color and delicateness to flower beds.
Grow different varieties of Irish Heath next to each other for mounds of color.
Bees love Irish Heath flowers.
Daboecia flowers are bell-shaped and slightly fragrant, especially in warm weather.
​Irish Heath seed pods, not quite yet ready to spill their seeds.
Erica (pictured above) is a close relative of Daboecia, evidenced by their similar flowers and foliage.

Videos

What's the difference between Heath and Heather?
A video all about Irish Heath.

Resources

How to Grow Heather Plants in your Garden
Growing Daobecia in Containers
Wikipedia: Daboecia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 278, Daboecia cantabrica (Irish Heath)