Heathers

Heathers are small, bushy shrubs belonging to the Ericaceae family that grow on nutrient-poor soils. There are many species – several hundred – whose flowering periods extend almost throughout the entire year: June to August for Erica tetralix, June to October for Erica cinerea, June to December for Erica arborea, August to October for Calluna vulgaris, September to November for Erica multifolia, November to April or February to July for Erica carnea, etc.

In Valais, Erica carnea is the most widespread species. Also known as Erica herbacea, alpine heather, snow heather or winter heath, it is an alpine plant that grows mainly on alpine pastures on the left bank of the Rhône, but also in the Finges Forest area and in Upper Valais.

Numerous varieties, selected for the colour of their flowers, are perfectly adapted to Valais soils. Very hardy and decorative, they are sold in garden centres and can be planted in spring or autumn in gardens, flower beds or cemeteries; they are also suitable for cultivation in pots.

Most heather species remain under 1 m in height (with the exception of Erica arborea, which can reach up to 3 m). The stems of these shrubs are woody and branched; the evergreen leaves are arranged in groups of three or four at the same point along the stems. The flowers are pink, purple, red or white depending on the species; grouped in clusters at the ends of the branches, small but very numerous, they conceal the foliage.

The staggered, early or late flowering of the different heather varieties explains the value of these plants for bees, which can obtain food from them even during the overwintering period, during their rare flights. They find brown-green pollen there, but above all they seek nectar, which is produced abundantly in the nectar glands located at the base of the ovary of the flowers.

In Valais, heather honey is not harvested as a pure monofloral honey, but forms part of certain mountain honeys; in regions affected by early flowering of these shrubs it enriches the first spring harvests, and in those with late flowering it helps to supplement winter stores.

A monofloral heather honey can be harvested in the Pyrenees or in certain regions of France. Very thick and syrupy in consistency, it crystallises only very slowly. Its colour is dark, reddish-brown, and it has a very strong aroma; the taste is also pronounced and slightly bitter.

Sources

Silberfeld, C. Reeb, Les plantes mellifères, 2016

Piquée, Les plantes mellifères mois par mois, 2014

Various authors, Le traité Rustica de l’apiculture, 2002