Calluna vulgaris

RHS Plant Profile

heather

Other common names

basam, bassum, beesom, besom, ling, Scotch heather, Scots heather, Scottish heather, white heather, grug

Synonyms

Erica vulgaris
Calluna erica

Shrubs

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

An evergreen shrub with small, narrow, linear leaves and spikes of urn-shaped pink or pale purple, single or double flowers borne from mid-summer to autumn. Plants reach around 60cm in height. Many cultivars have been both selected and bred

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–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: Calluna are low-growing or dwarf evergreen shrubs with stems clothed in tiny overlapping leaves, and terminal, spike-like racemes of small, 4-petalled flowers with coloured calyces
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: N America, N Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained acidic soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring, or propagate by softwood cuttings, division or layering in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 10. Shear off old flowering stems after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and other fungal diseases