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Calluna vulgaris

Phonetic Spelling
kal-LOO-nah vul-GAIR-iss
Description

This plant can be grown as a groundcover and is tolerant of poor soils. Prune every spring to prevent bare stems.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Scale and spider mites can be problems. Stem rot occurs during hot, humid summers (like we have in the South).

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bonita'
  • 'Forest Fire'
  • 'Kinlochruel'
  • 'Mair's Variety'
  • 'Marleen'
  • 'Red Fred'
'Bonita', 'Forest Fire', 'Kinlochruel', 'Mair's Variety', 'Marleen', 'Red Fred'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#rock garden#background planting#shrub borders
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bonita'
  • 'Forest Fire'
  • 'Kinlochruel'
  • 'Mair's Variety'
  • 'Marleen'
  • 'Red Fred'
'Bonita', 'Forest Fire', 'Kinlochruel', 'Mair's Variety', 'Marleen', 'Red Fred'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#rock garden#background planting#shrub borders
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Calluna
    Species:
    vulgaris
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Plants were used to make brooms.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eurasia
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    poor soils
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Dense
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Rose to purplish-pink flowers are on 1"-12" one-sided raceme. They bloom from summer to fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Tiny, needle-like leaves are in groups of 4, opposite, simple, and are medium gray-green. They turn from green to bronze to purple winter color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Poor Soil