Question
I too have just received an Italian Heather plant as a gift and am curious as to if it can withstand Zone 3B weather (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) or if it is a plant that will need to be kept indoors throughout it's life.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanking you in advance!
Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy,
Thanx for your question.  The Italian Heather is not frost tolerant and will not survive your Alberta winter.  You can keep it as a potted plant though and put it outdoors during the summer.  Feed it with a fertilizer like Miracid as this plant prefers an acidic soil.  Too much nitrogen will result in a lot of foliage and little or no blooming.  It will also benefit from direct sunlight and when indoors, an exposure in the East or South window.  I hope this helps.
Tom