With its compact, stiffly upright growth, heather is a guarantee for the colorful autumn spectacle in the bed and on the balcony. Home gardeners are right to wonder if the lavish blooms are limited to a single season. Find out here about the winter hardiness of common heather. Our tips get to the heart of how to overwinter Calluna vulgaris.

Heather is usually very hardy

The quality of the location determines the winter hardiness - that's what matters

Common heather is a typical plant of the north with extensive, sun-drenched landscapes, characterized by sandy, lean, acidic soil. In its native ranges, Calluna vulgaris is completely hardy and can live up to 40 years. The closer the location qualities of your garden come to the following general conditions, the more pronounced the winter hardiness develops:

  • Full sun to shady position
  • Poor, humic soil
  • Moderately dry to fresh, with no risk of waterlogging
  • Acidic pH from 4 to 5

Broom heather is therefore the ideal candidate for designing a heather garden. On the other hand, if you integrate a Calluna vulgaris into the perennial bed with nutrient-rich, calcareous soil, it will only be a short guest in your garden.

Winter protection is obligatory in boxes and buckets - this is how it works

Thanks to a filigree growth habit with a height of 15 to 30 cm, heather is a welcome guest in tubs and flower boxes (€16.99) on the balcony. Of course, limited winter hardiness must be observed in planters, because the root balls are vulnerable to frost and icy winds. The following winter protection measures are recommended:

  • Cover pots and boxes with bubble wrap, jute ribbons or coconut mats
  • Place vessels on wood or styrofoam plates to protect against the cold floor
  • Cover the substrate with autumn leaves, bark mulch or wood shavings

Professional winter protection includes careful care. Since evergreen heather evaporates moisture even during the cold season, water regularly. A quick finger test shows whether the substrate has actually dried. Pour the lime-free water sparingly to prevent waterlogging.

tips

Are you wondering how the colorful heather got its name? The profile states that our ancestors tied the dried shoots together in bunches. This resulted in stable brooms and brushes for sweeping floors inside and outside.

Category:

Herbs