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Woody > Calluna > Calluna vulgaris > Calluna vulgaris

Calluna vulgaris


Scottish Heather




            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

"

Impressive flower colour and good for group plantings. Easy to grow in most soils and fairly drought tolerant.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

"

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Calluna
Species
vulgaris
Category
Woody
Type
Shrub (evergreen)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
4–10
Canadian Hardiness Zone
3b–8a
Temperature (°C)
-30˚
Temperature (°F)
-22˚
Height
30 cm
Spread
50 cm
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
August
General Description
Evergreen flower with purple to white flowers. Small shrub with woody stems.
Cultivation
Prefers acidic soil with good drainage. Grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Needs plenty of sun in the winter to produce flowers in summer and autumn. Strong winds can dry plants and kill them.
Shape
Loose, unkempt low growing mounded, ground cover form.
Growth
Medium
ID Characteristic
Mounding form with bright flowers. Calluna flowers have 4 lobes.
Pests
Susceptible to root diseases when soil is too moist. Plants in humid or moist areas are susceptible to fungal diseases. Heather Beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) eats the leafy-foliage. This pest is sometimes used to control Calluna vulgaris population.
Bark/Stem Description
Bark is decay resistant. Smooth bark with red tinge. Not of ornamental importance.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Small, solitary, no stalk. Buds are also angled with approximately 3 scales.
Leaf Description
Evergreen with opposite arrangement and simple veination. The oblong-ovate. 0.5–1 cm long leaves are closely packed.
Flower Description
Red, purple-pink and white. Urn-shaped sepals that are less than 1 cm long. 4 lobed corolla. Flowers are on 2.5–30 cm racemes that flower from July–September. It is a long day plant.
Fruit Description
Four valved and less than 0.5 cm long capsule. Produced in October and not ornamental.
Colour Description
Medium green in the summer. In the winter leaves vary from bronze to green.
Texture Description
Plant has fine texture in all seasons.
Notable Specimens
Bells Cherrybank Garden, Perth, Scotland.
Propagation
Layering by setting a branch from the plant under the soil and letting it root. The most common way of propagation is cuttings.
References
Reeves Garden Centre, Woodbridge Ontario; Glen Echo Nurseries, Caledon Ontario; Hyde Park Garden Centre, London Ontario.
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