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Common Heather in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Calluna vulgaris

 

Common Heather

Heather is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 20 to 50cm tall and found growing naturally across heathland and moorland and oftenin acidic pine and oak woodland across Europe. Flower colours range from white to purple and occasionally red. The flowering season differs among cultivars and extends from mid-summer to late autumn in the northern hemisphere. The flowers eventually turn brown but remain on the plants over winter.

Contributed by @jan16

 
plant Features
  • Common Heather likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Common Heather likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Common Heather is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Common Heather likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Common Heather

Latin name

Calluna vulgaris

type

Shrub

family

Ericaceae

ph

5.0 - 6.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Common Heather likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Common Heather is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Common Heather likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

  • Water

    Common Heather likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Common Heather is 0.30meters x 0.50meters 0.30 M 0.50 M

Calluna vulgaris

Heather is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 20 to 50cm tall and found growing naturally across heathland and moorland and oftenin acidic pine and oak woodland across Europe. Flower colours range from white to purple and occasionally red. The flowering season differs among cultivars and extends from mid-summer to late autumn in the northern hemisphere. The flowers eventually turn brown but remain on the plants over winter.


Planting young plants

From Early Spring TO Late Autumn

Plant from early to late spring or during autumn. Set the plants deeply so that the whole of the stem is buried and the foliage rests on the soil. On dry soil, add peat round the roots.

 

Propagation by cuttings

From Mid Summer TO Late Autumn

Cuttings should be taken from mid-summer to late autumn. Use young side shoots, 1 - 2 inches long with or without a small heel of old wood. Insert into pots of moist, well drained rooting medium such as a mixture of two parts sharp sand and one part acid peat. Root the cuttings in a mist propagator. Hormone rooting compounds are not necessary.

 

Flowering Season

From Mid Summer TO Early Winter

The flowering season with different cultivars extends from mid-summer to late autumn. The flowers may turn brown but still remain on the plants over winter, and this can lead to interesting decorative effects.

 
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