Calluna vulgaris

How to grow Calluna vulgaris – growing condition and care:

How to grow:
Acid soil, rich soil, well drained

How to care:
Fertilize once a year, put mulch, prefer weed free area

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – cutting

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but easier to start from cutting and can ensure the color of the flower

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive, will burn in hot summer in full sun

Planting season:
Spring in hardiness zone 4-6, spring to summer in hardiness zone 7-9, spring to autumn hardiness zone 10a, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b.

Pests and diseases:
Spider mites, scale, weevil

Pruning season:
Spring / Summer

How to prune:
Dead stems

Size of the plant?
20-50cm, 8-20 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade / Full Shade (But with light in warm weather)

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
Yes, when grow indoor need to care for enough light, also far away from heater, might damage the leaves and won’t bloom

Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, start with pot that will be 50-70% more than the root ball, bigger the plant smaller the percentage, every time that arrive to full capacity need to switch to bigger pot until arrives to desirable size, need to take care and switch every few years the soil, because the soil lose the viability over time and it’s efficient, if it’s not possible to take the plant out the soil need to take part of the soil and switch (from the side of the plant, also prune the plant and the roots, soil need to be potting mix or peat soil with perlite, put a bottom for the container and when water the plant let it fill the bottom but also need to dry in the same day, also need to check that the water go out if not, or the soil not good or not enough holes in the container, also possible to grow it as bonsai.

Blooming information

Flowering season:
Summer / Autumn

General information about the flower
Pink, purple, red, blue or white flower, the shape it’s from close bell to trumpet in the size 1-3 mm, flowers grow in the end of the stem.

How to grow Calluna vulgaris heather seeds

Sowing requirement:
Moist soil, humidity above 10-21C (50-70F)

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dark and dry place, better to keep in refrigerator

Sowing season:
Spring to early summer (but not in the hot days of the summer), in warm weather like in hardiness zone 10b spring or autumn

How to plant:
Better to plant in peat soil with vermiculite even if planting directly just dig a bigger hole and put vermiculite around the seeds

Planting spacing:
30*40 cm (12*16 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
2-4cm (0.8-1.7 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
High humidity, moist soil (better sunny location)

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
3-7 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Water regularly and don’t let it dry

Do the seeds require burying?
Yes, better to keep the seeds under 0C (32F)

Calluna vulgaris varieties

Dark beauty – (also known as Heather dark beauty). The flowers color is dark cerise and the foliage is green. The plant can reach a height of 25cm (10 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-October.

Sandy – (also known as Heather sandy, Scottish heather sandy, Scot heather sandy) the flowers color is white. The plant can reach a height of 40cm (16 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-November.

Alicia – (also known as Heather Alicia, Scotch heather ‘Alicia’, Scots heather ‘Alicia’, Ling). The foliage color is bright green. The flowers color is white. The plant can reach a height of 25cm (10 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-January.

Flamingo – (also known as Scotch heather flamingo, Ling heather flamingo). The flowers color is mauve and the foliage is dark green. The plant can reach a height of 30cm (11 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-October.

Silver knight (also known as Ling heather) the leaves are grayish and the flowers are pink. The plant can reach a height of 45cm (18 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is July-October.

Allegro – the flowers are cherry color and the leaves are dark green. The blooming time is July-October.

Amethyst the foliage is dark green the flowers are dark purple buds. The blooming time is August-January. The plant can reach a height of 25cm (10 inches) after 5 to 10 years.

Knlochruel – the foliage is bright green, bronzing at the tips in late autumn. The folwers are tiny, double color white. The plant can reach a height of 25cm (10 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-October.

H.E beale – the foliage is dark green the flowers are pink/purple. The plant can reach a height of 30cm (11 inches) after 5 to 10 years. The blooming time is August-October.

Scientific name:

Calluna vulgaris

Alternative names: Common heather, ling, Simply heather, Scotch heather, Firefly scotch heather, Calluna heather