Scottish Heather Calluna vulgaris
Other Common Name(s):
- 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'
- 'Bonita', 'Forest Fire', 'Kinlochruel', 'Mair's Variety', 'Marleen', 'Red Fred'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bonita'
- 'Forest Fire'
- 'Kinlochruel'
- 'Mair's Variety'
- 'Marleen'
- 'Red Fred'
- 'Bonita'
- 'Bonita', 'Forest Fire', 'Kinlochruel', 'Mair's Variety', 'Marleen', 'Red Fred'
- Tags:
-
-
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:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
