Cassiope mertensiana var. gracilis

Synonyms

Cassiope mertensiana 'Gracilis'
Cassiope lycopodioides 'Gracilis'
Cassiope lycopodioides var. gracilis
Cassiope mertensiana subsp. gracilis

Alpine Rockery Shrubs

An evergreen, very small, rounded shrub to a height of up to 15cm with tiny dark green oval leaves and white bell-shaped flowers in spring. This form is very free-flowering

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Clay

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

Loam Clay

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or 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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ericaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Cassiope are small, heath-like evergreen shrubs with tiny, dark green leaves in four ranks, and solitary, nodding, bell or urn-shaped white flowers from the upper leaf axils in late spring and early summer
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Ideal for a partially shaded rock garden or open woodland. Needs an acidic, moist, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a cold frame in autumn or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free