Calluna vulgaris 'Silver Knight'

RHS Plant Profile

heather 'Silver Knight'

Alpine Rockery Shrubs

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A vigorous, neat, small evergreen shrub with few side shoots and downy silver-grey foliage tinted purple in winter. It bears characteristic upright spikes of small lavender flowers in late summer to early autumn, August to September

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 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 Partial shade

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, 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, humus-rich, 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

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

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal and root diseases, especially in warmer locations