How long have you had the heather?

I planted 2 little purple heathers last year and after our glorious winter they have both turned white!
Any ideas?
Thanks

Ah, that's what I wanted to know, whether they were relatively recent acquisitions or not. The most likely explanation is that the varieties you bought were newer hybrids, perhaps bred for their flower colour, I don't know - and the genetic coding hasn't held and they've reverted to one or other of their original parents. I'd be interested to hear, though, if we have a mild winter this year, whether they flower white or purple next spring, just in case it is a result of the awful winter (though this is not at all likely).