Heath-mould plants
Rhododendron arboreum
Sm.
This term is related to the plants needing an acid ground (pH equal or inferior to 6) to have a good development and for which a garden ground is in general not adapted, except in regions where the ground is naturally acid and fresh (Britain, Limousin…). In general, this category of plants hardly tolerates full sun facing in our climates, what explains why it is in preference cultivated in a protected from the wind half-shady or shady place.
Located next to the fern patch, Lyon Botanical Garden’s heath mould plants collection presents many shrubs and shrubby trees hardy species from various geographical origins with among them 170 members of the Ericaceae family. This family contains among others the genus Rhododendron (70 species represented in the botanical garden) and heath (genus Erica) whose 40 species are presented. The family is widely represented in the North hemisphere.
The months of March, April and May offer the most spectacular flowerings such as Rhododendron mucronulatum which appears brightly purple before the leaves grow.
Erica erigena
R. Ross
The other species whose flowering appears after the heaths’ one offer a varying palette of colours. We can notice among the heaths, a specimen of Erica erigena, a tree like heath from the southwest of France, also growing in Spain.
The genus Vaccinium also belongs to this family. People appreciate some species such as the American bilberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) for their spring flowering and their shimmering autumn colours. Pieris, with their young leaves coloured in spring belong to this family too.
Drimys winteri
J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.
This collection also presents various species belonging to other families, less known but remarkable as well such as Clethra alnifolia that has summer white flower clusters contrasting with a beautiful glossy dark green foliage. Drimys winteri, from South America is a rare shrubby tree with an original lasting foliage. The presence of Daphne, Cephalanthus and others Pernettya with a decorative fructification gives an original touch.
Helleborus niger
L.
A Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) collection of the Ranunculaceae family comes to enrich this bed with their winter flowering in January and February.