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Prickly Heath in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Pernettya Mucronata

 

Prickly Heath

Gaultheria are evergreen, often dioecious (i.e. each plant is either male or female - not both) shrubs with simple, rather leathery leaves. It bears small white or pink bell-shaped flowers that are followed by round fruits that are red, white or pink, or by a dry capsule with numerous small seeds. 'White' is a dwarf shrub which has white flowers in late Spring and early summer, followed by white berries if the female plant has been pollinated.

 
plant Features
  • Prickly Heath likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Prickly Heath likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Prickly Heath is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Prickly Heath likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Prickly Heath

Latin name

Pernettya Mucronata

type

Evergreen Shrub

family

Ericaceae

ph

7.3 - 5.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Prickly Heath likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Frost

    Prickly Heath is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Soil

    Prickly Heath likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

  • Water

    Prickly Heath 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 Prickly Heath is 0.30meters x 0.30meters 0.30 M 0.30 M

Pernettya Mucronata

Gaultheria are evergreen, often dioecious (i.e. each plant is either male or female - not both) shrubs with simple, rather leathery leaves. It bears small white or pink bell-shaped flowers that are followed by round fruits that are red, white or pink, or by a dry capsule with numerous small seeds. 'White' is a dwarf shrub which has white flowers in late Spring and early summer, followed by white berries if the female plant has been pollinated.


Flowering

From Mid Summer TO Late Summer

The bell-shaped flowers appear in mid Summer to late Summer (and are followed by colourful round berries in Autumn)

 

Planting

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Gaultheria prefer partial shade, but will tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist - so bear this in mind when choosing a site. They also need moist, but free-draining, acidic soil.

 

Propagating by cuttings

From Late Summer TO Early Autumn

Take semi- ripe cuttings from this season's growth in Autumn. Cut neatly, just below a leaf node, a 5" approx. piece of a healthy shoot that has soft growth at the tip. pinch out the growing tip, and cut off the bottom leaves. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, and carefully place in a pot of cutting compost with the leaves just above the level of the compost. Water, label, cover with a polythene bag, and place in a warm, bright place, out of direct sunlight. Take the polythene bag off periodically for a while for ventilation (at least twice a week)

 
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