Imagine a heath landscape in all its glory. The first thing you probably think of is common heather. The dwarf shrub is typical for this type of landscape and creates colorful accents in your garden. There are numerous varieties that impress with their variety of colors.

The common heather is widespread in German forests

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. growth
  3. leaves
  4. blossom
  5. use
  6. bonsai
  7. Edible
  8. Which location is suitable?
  9. What soil does the plant need?
  10. Propagating common heather
  11. sowing
  12. cuttings
  13. Common heather in a pot
  14. Water heather
  15. Fertilize heather properly
  16. Cut heather properly
  17. How do I plant correctly?
  18. hardy
  19. pests
  20. fungus
  21. Common heather does not flower
  22. sorts

    23. origin

    Calluna vulgaris is known as common heather or summer heather. It is the only species within the genus Calluna and belongs to the heather family. Their natural home is in Central and Northern Europe with a distribution focus in regions shaped by the Ice Age. To the west, their area extends to western Siberia.

    The common heather is considered an acid indicator, as it is mainly found in moors and heaths. Dunes and sparse forests are other habitats inhabited by the shrub. It occurs in the lowlands and conquers altitudes of up to 2,700 meters. Calluna vulgaris arrived in gardens 150 years ago, where it has graced various plant arrangements ever since.

    growth

    Calluna vulgaris is a dwarf woody shrub that is evergreen and relatively slow growing. As a result, the plant can reach an age of 40 years. The heather grows between 30 and 100 centimeters high and forms a compact and tightly upright appearance. As a deep root, it develops a root network that reaches far into the substrate. They live in symbiosis with root fungi, which provide them with additional nutrients.

    leaves

    In contrast to other heather plants, the common heather develops scaly leaves whose leaf blade lies close to the branch. The leaves are leathery and rolled up. They sit opposite on the shoot axis and are only a few millimeters long. Depending on the variety, the color of the foliage varies from shiny dark green to yellow to silver-grey.

    blossom

    From late summer, Calluna vulgaris develops lush flowers that last into autumn. Some varieties start flowering in August and late bloomers will have their last flowers in November. Broom heathers flower for the first time from the age of four. The flowers are crowded together in a racemose inflorescence. They stand nodding on the stem and are built up in fours. Petals and sepals are colored the same and differ only in their length. The sepals tower over the inconspicuous crown.

    The color spectrum of the wild form varies between white, pink and purple. Cultivated forms shine in yellow, Bordeaux red, purple or blue. Bud heathers are a special form in which the buds do not open. They impress with different bud colors for up to two months, but cannot be propagated by seeds. The flowering varieties are more colorful. Their blooms last for four to five weeks.

    use

    Broom heathers are extremely robust and weatherproof, which makes them popular pot plants. The new varieties impress with their intense colors. Colorful potted gardens can be created with these specimens. Calluna vulgaris is ideal for the heather garden. It harmonises with other ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons.

    Make sure that the plant partners do not grow too high. The common heather is very light-hungry and dies in the vicinity of densely growing and tall companion plants. You can plant juniper, broom or heather rosemary as shrubs that throw little shade. Broom heather grows in company with crowberries or cranberries. The dwarf forms of conifers such as pine or spruce are also suitable as plant partners.

    In addition to aesthetic functions, the sun-loving dwarf shrub also has an important role as a food supplier. The sweet nectar provides food for wild bees and bumblebees. Broom heathers are popular plants on bee pastures and are often used to obtain the valuable heather honey. Flowering broom heathers and bud heathers are often planted as grave decorations.

    bonsai

    Despite its bushy habit, Calluna vulgaris can be grown as a bonsai. Because of the slow growth, it takes a long time to develop into a tree-like shape with a main stem. Plants that have already developed a deep root system are not suitable for bonsai cultivation. Since the roots have to be severely trimmed, these specimens will not survive transplanting. A thick layer of mulch with sufficiently high soil moisture helps to promote a shallow root network.

    Bonsai cultivation tips:

    • Substrate mixture of peat, akadama and lava in the ratio 30:10:60
    • Cut back flower spikes regularly as they grow up to 30 centimeters long
    • thrive in trays in sunny spots outdoors

    Edible

    The common heather was already used as a medicinal plant in the 19th century. The flowers and shoots are still used today as the basis for the production of tinctures and teas. The dark heather honey not only sweetens teas, but also spice breads. There is no danger for children or pets.

    Which location is suitable?

    Summer heaths thrive in sunny or light places. The dwarf shrubs tolerate half-shady conditions if the substrate meets their needs. In bog beds and heather gardens, smut heathers find optimal conditions.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The substrate should ensure high permeability and not be too moist. Moist soils do not cause any problems for the plants. A sandy, humus-rich soil is ideal. Broom heather grows on acidic soils. The pH should not be above 6.5. Rhododendron earth offers the dwarf shrubs optimal growth conditions.

    If the soil is chalky, you can mix it with oak leaves or pine litter to lower the pH. Pure clay soils should be mixed with sand or humus. If you are temporarily cultivating your common heather in a bucket, you can use commercially available potting soil.

    Propagating common heather

    Calluna vulgaris can be propagated by sinkers. With this method, you bend side branches of a strong plant to the ground and score the shoot crosswise at the lowest point. You can fix the end of the side branch in the ground with a long hairpin or stones, whereby the shoot tip should protrude from the ground. As soon as the sinker sprouts again at the top, it has developed roots. Separate the side branch from the mother plant.

    sowing

    Propagation via seeds is possible. You need to be patient until you can collect the ripe fruits from your heather. It takes a few years for the dwarf shrubs to flower for the first time.

    cuttings

    Broom heathers can be propagated by so-called Risslinge. This type of cuttings is not cut off, but torn off from the trunk downwards with one quick movement. This tears off a piece of bark, which later serves as a growth driver on the ten centimeter long side shoot.

    Fill a planter with a mixture of sand and rhododendron or bog soil and stick the crackling into the substrate. Moisten the soil and cover the planter with a glass jar or clear plastic bag. This keeps the humidity constant. In the next three weeks the cracklings develop roots and can be pricked out.

    Common heather in a pot

    Broom heathers are perfect pot plants that provide atmospheric moments in autumn. They are suitable for planting in balcony boxes, clay pots (€109.00) or woven baskets. When designing, you can let your creativity run free. The heather plants can be planted individually or in groups with different colored varieties. They harmonize perfectly with gentians, sedum, ivy or horned violets. Grasses provide attractive accents.

    You should pay attention to this:

    • Use a container with a water drain to prevent waterlogging
    • use large enough pots to allow roots to spread
    • use conventional potting soil with high structural stability

    Water heather

    Calluna vulgaris is an undemanding plant that should be watered regularly in the first year after planting. A watering session is necessary once the top layer of soil has dried. You should water more frequently on sandy soils than on less permeable substrates. Adjust irrigation units based on rainfall and temperature. Water more frequently in warm and dry periods than in cool, rainy periods.

    Well-established plants need to be watered less often. They are happy about an additional water supply in long-lasting dry periods. Also water the plants in winter on frost-free days, as the evergreen shrubs do not stop their metabolism. Potted plants require a little more care. They enjoy regular watering.

    Fertilize heather properly

    If you have planted your heather in rhododendron soil, you do not have to fertilize the dwarf shrub until next year. Use a fertilizer for rhododendrons, as this has an acidic effect and provides the plants with all the nutrients and trace elements they need.

    Don't fertilize well-rooted specimens more than twice a year. An oversupply of nutrients damages the plants and makes them more susceptible to fungal diseases. Broom heathers are fertilized for the first time from the second year between April and May. A further supply of nutrients takes place between July and August. The soil should be sufficiently moist and must not dry out in the following 14 days.

    Cut heather properly

    In the spring, remove the withered inflorescences from last year. This measure stimulates the growth of the dwarf shrubs, so that they develop numerous fresh flowers in the coming flowering phase. With a pruning you prevent a balding of the lower areas. Be careful not to cut back into the old wood. Broom heathers then sprout poorly.

    How do I plant correctly?

    If the heather has to be transplanted due to lack of space or light, you should pay attention to the weather. Choose a cool and humid day for this measure so that the roots do not dry out. If the summer is very hot and dry, you should wait until October. After a rainy summer, you can start transplanting as early as September.

    Before digging up the plant, it should be cut back. A balanced relationship between leaf mass and root ball is ideal so that the dwarf shrub can regenerate well in the new location. Avoid cutting back into the old wood, otherwise the common heather will look unsightly and will not sprout well.

    hardy

    Calluna vulgaris is hardy and tolerates temperatures in the double-digit minus range without any problems. It does not require any special winter protection. So that the ground does not freeze in the particularly cold winter months, you should spread brushwood and fir branches over the substrate. Water the plants on frost-free days. Since they do not shed their leaves, the dwarf shrubs also need water in winter. Long periods of drought or frozen ground cause leaves and branches to die off.
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    pests

    Aphids and spider mites are among the pests that often attack common heather. Weakened shrubs are particularly affected. If your plant is affected, you should review the care measures. Over-fertilization is the most common cause leading to a pest infestation. You can remove the pests with a sharp jet of water.

    fungus

    Waterlogging in the soil and damp weather provide ideal growth conditions for fungal spores. Calluna vulgaris is often attacked by Phytophthora or gray mold. Powdery mildew is a fair-weather fungus that spreads in dry and warm weather.

    wilt fungus

    The delicate roots of common heather rot quickly when waterlogging forms in the soil. Under these conditions, the plants are often attacked by a wilt fungus from the genus Phytophthora. In young plants, fungal attack leads to sudden drying out. Older specimens show growth depression. Their leaves turn yellowish or red.

    If your plant is affected, you should remove the diseased growths immediately. This will prevent the spores from spreading to other shrubs. A cure with special antifungal agents helps preventively.

    gray mold

    Under high humidity, gray mold spreads to the parts of the plant. The spores settle in the lower area, which is poorly ventilated. They can also damage flowers and shoots. A heavy infestation leads to rot, so you should act quickly and treat the plant with an antidote.

    powdery mildew

    A mealy white coating on the parts of the plant indicates an infestation with powdery mildew. The lower leaves of affected plants often turn reddish. As a preventive measure, you should not give your plant any nitrogen-rich fertilizers. They soften the tissue, which allows the spores to settle better. Anti-fungal agents help against an infestation.

    Common heather does not flower

    If the plant flowers only weakly or not at all, the cause can be an excessive salt content in the substrate, an excessive supply of nutrients or waterlogging.

    tips

    Bud heathers do not need to be trimmed. These varieties are therefore particularly easy to care for. Broom heathers with double flowers are equally easy to care for and enchant with romantic inflorescences. Both shapes are perfect for autumnal pot arrangements that decorate festive tables.

    sorts

    • dark beauty: Flowers shine wine-red, filled. Blooms from September to October. Grows ten to eight inches tall.
    • garden girls: Bud heathers that carry their buds into December. Growth height 20 to 30 centimeters.
    • SilverQueen: Develops silver gray foliage. Blooms from September to November, purple flowers. Poor growth, between 35 and 50 centimeters high.
    • boskoop: Yellow foliage, turning orange to coppery in autumn. Mauve flowers, flowering period from August to September. Growth height between 20 and 30 centimeters.
    • Peter Sparkes: Double flowers, deep pink. Grows between 30 and 45 centimeters high.
    • zeta: Yellow-green foliage. Does not develop flowers or buds. Growth height 25 to 40 centimeters.

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Herbs