Calluna vulgaris 'Gold Flame'

RHS Plant Profile

heather 'Gold Flame'

Shrubs

A spreading evergreen shrub to 30cm high, with small, scale-like leaves. In full sun, new growth is golden yellow in spring, maturing to orange in summer and shades of orange-red in winter. Long spikes of small, pale reddish-purple 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

0.1-0.5 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: Well–drained or Moist but 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: Spreading branched
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. See Hardy heathers for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer, or by layering in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 10, in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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