Description
Phyllodoce –
There are about 8 species of spreading or erect, evergreen shrub and subshrubs in the Ericaceae family, in this genus. They occur from alpine and arctic habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. They produce alternate, linear, leathery, leaves that are less than 1″ long and are downy beneath, with rolled, finely toothed margins, their almost pine needle like. From spring to ealry summer it bears bell, urn, or pitcher shaped, 5 lobed, nodding or horizontally held flowers are borne in terminal racemes or umbel like clusters, sometimes solitary.
Grow in lime free, moderately fertile, humus rich, moist, but well drained, acidic soil in partial shade. They quickly suffer in hot, dry conditions. Lightly trim after flowering to maintain a compact habit.
P. x intermedia – This bushy, low spreading subshrub is a natural cross between P. aleutica var. glanduliflora and P. empetriformis and is found on the west coast of North America. It produces linear, glossy, minutely toothed, dark green leaves, ½” long, downy beneath. In mid spring it bears umbel like clusters of pendent, urn shaped to narrowly bell shaped, reddish purple to pink flowers, to 1/4″ long, on slender red stalks.
Zones 3-7
