Phyllodoce caerulea

RHS Plant Profile
blue heath

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Phyllodoce caerulea?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Bryanthus taxifolius
Phyllodoce taxifolia
Menziesia caerulea

Award of Garden Merit
Shrubs

A low-growing, evergreen shrub with small (1cm) linear, dark green glossy leaves and nodding, pitcher-shaped, purplish-pink flowers in clusters in late spring and summer. A good plant for the rock garden

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ericaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Phyllodoce are heath-like, dwarf, spreading or erect, evergreen shrubs. The stems are clothed with tiny, needle-like leaves topped with clusters of bell-, urn- or pitcher-shaped flowers in spring or summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Temp. N. Hemisphere

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained acid soil. Does best where summers are not too hot

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed at 6-12°C in early spring, take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or layer in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Coastal
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 10

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free