Calluna vulgaris 'Tricolorifolia'

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Synonyms

Calluna vulgaris 'Tricolor, Smith's Variety'
Calluna vulgaris 'Tricolorifolia' Smith's Variety

Plants for pollinators
Alpine Rockery Shrubs

A compact evergreen shrublet with a range of leaf colour from chocolate brown foliage in the winter through to dark green with pinkish cream shoot tips in spring and green the rest of the year and spikelets of lavender flowers in August and September.

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 or Well–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed
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, Matforming
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 well-drained acidic soil in full sun

Propagation

Sow seed in spring. Propagate by division, layering shoots in spring/summer or planting softwood cuttings in a cold frame in summer.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Trim off old flowering stems after flowering to keep compact. Pruning group 10.

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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