Calluna vulgaris 'Crowborough Beacon'

RHS Plant Profile

heather 'Crowborough Beacon'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Shrubs

A spreading, dwarf, evergreen shrub to about 30cm with upright shoots bearing tiny, dark green, scale-like leaves, with cream, orange and red new growth in early spring. Spikes of pale pinkish-purple, bell-shaped flowers are produced in late summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 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
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: No
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in well-drained, acidic soil. See Hardy heathers for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 10

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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