With bright red leaf shoots and creamy-white bell-shaped flowers, the Japanese lavender heather has a magical flair. As a picturesque solitaire or lush hedge, the shady bell becomes a decorative highlight in partially shaded to shady locations. Significant aspects of successful cultivation are examined in more detail here.

The Japanese lavender heather is popular mainly because of its foliage

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant Japanese lavender heather properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. When is flowering time?
  7. Pruning Japanese lavender correctly
  8. Water Japanese lavender heather
  9. Fertilize Japanese lavender heather properly
  10. hibernate
  11. Propagating Japanese Heather Lavender
  12. Is Japanese heather lavender poisonous?
  13. Yellow leaves
  14. Beautiful varieties

    15. Plant Japanese lavender heather properly

    In order for the picturesque appearance of shadow bells to be successful all round, you set the course with the right planting. Look for a partially shaded location with loose, slightly acidic and not overly nutritious soil. How to proceed professionally:

    • Dig a pit twice the volume of the root ball
    • Stuff the shadow bell and insert it in the middle
    • Bury the root ball with pure rhododendron or bog soil
    • Alternatively, enrich half of the excavation with acidic leaf and coniferous compost

    Plant Japanese lavender heather as deep as it was previously cultivated in the nursery pot. Finally, pour generously with collected rainwater.

    care tips

    Japanese lavender heather shows the full range of its strengths when given this care:

    • Never let the root area dry out
    • Only use low-lime water
    • Fertilize organically every 2-3 weeks from March to July
    • Clean out faded flowers
    • Carry out the main cut in June/July

    Regardless of the winter hardiness, a light winter protection has proven itself for blackbells. A layer of foliage on the root disc and a hood made of breathable fleece protect the beauty of the flowers from the rigors of a harsh winter.
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    Which location is suitable?

    They play all trump cards to shadow bells when the site is under partially shaded lighting conditions. You will have less pleasure in the ornamental tree under the blazing sun and in permanent shade. So that the pretty blooms are not tousled by the spring wind, we recommend a sheltered location in front of a wall or in the security of towering rhododendrons.

    The right planting distance

    While other ornamental trees tend to grow taller, the shadowy bell gains width at the same time. Pay attention to this fact when choosing the planting distance. With a growth height and width of 30-50 cm, the adequate distance is 40 cm. If the lavender heather stretches 80-100 cm in height and width, you are correct with a distance of 90 cm. To create a dense hedge of shadowbells, reduce these values by a third.

    What soil does the plant need?

    If the soil meets the following criteria, you offer the shadow bells ideal conditions for a colorful budding, a rich bloom and a shiny green leaf dress:

    • Permeable, humic and low in nutrients
    • Fresh, moist and loose, without the risk of waterlogging
    • Acidic pH from 4.2 to 5.5

    When is flowering time?

    The main bloom of shadow bells extends over the months of April and May. Depending on the weather, in mild years you can look forward to the first bell-shaped blossoms as early as March, which will draw everyone's attention well into June. To ensure that the flowers do not run out of breath prematurely, regularly cut off withered inflorescences.

    Pruning Japanese lavender correctly

    With an annual increase of 5 to 15 cm, the growth of the blackbells runs smoothly. Nevertheless, we recommend an annual shape and maintenance cut, so that the bushy-compact habit and the plentiful abundance of flowers are preserved. How to cut lavender heather correctly:

    • Cut off faded flowers to make room for reblooming
    • Shorten shoots that are too long immediately after the end of the flowering period
    • Make each cut just above an outward-facing, dormant eye
    • Thin out the wood thoroughly by cutting deadwood at the base

    Please consider the high poison content and put on protective gloves and long-sleeved clothing.

    Water Japanese lavender heather

    Don't let a shadowy bell go thirsty, because the ornamental tree throws off its evergreen foliage indignantly when it is stressed by drought. Water any time of year as soon as the surface of the soil has dried. In the spring and summer this may be needed daily, while in the winter it may need to be watered every 1 to 2 weeks if there is no snow. Only use water that is low in lime to take account of the acidic pH value.

    Fertilize Japanese lavender heather properly

    If you spoil the Schattenglockchen every 14 days from March to July with an organic fertilizer, the nutrient balance is in balance. Lavender heather is happy about a dose of liquid fertilizer in the bucket according to the dosage instructions. Avoid giving nitrogen-rich, mineral fertilizers, as this promotes leaf growth, but this is at the expense of the abundance of flowers.

    hibernate

    The shadow bell is prepared for up to - 23 degrees Celsius. Since the distinctive ornamental tree buds in autumn and wears its green foliage throughout the winter, we still recommend the following protective measures:

    • Pile up the root disk thickly with leaves and needle brushwood
    • Cover the sensitive branches with fleece or jute
    • Water a little on frost-free days

    Buckets are placed on a block of wood in front of the south wall of the house and covered with bubble wrap. The substrate is covered with leaves or peat dust. Just like in the bed, a breathable fleece hat is beneficial to protect the buds.

    Propagating Japanese Heather Lavender

    In order to grow more specimens of a Japanese lavender heather, the following methods are available for the hobby garden:

    • Cut cuttings of 15 cm length, defoliate half, place in lean substrate and allow to root
    • In the spring, score a half-lignified sinker in the middle, dig in at this point until roots form

    In order for rooting to be successful, a constant supply of low-lime water is important. You can either plant the young shadow bells in autumn of the same year or take care of them through the winter in order to plant out particularly strong young plants from May.

    Is Japanese heather lavender poisonous?

    The shadow bell is full to the brim with toxic ingredients that can have fatal consequences for humans and animals. Skin contact with the plant sap results in severe irritation and even skin dermatitis. The consumption of blossoms, leaves and fruits causes nausea, vomiting, tachycardia and even fatal circulatory collapse. Always wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing when planting and tending. Do not plant lavender heather within reach of children and pets without proper safety precautions.
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    Yellow leaves

    The shadowy bell reacts to hard watering with yellow leaves. The lime content in tap water causes leaf chlorosis in Japanese Heather Lavender, the visible symptom of which is yellow leaves with green leaf veins clearly visible. Cut off the diseased foliage and water immediately with collected rainwater or pond water.

    Beautiful varieties

    • Red Mill: Furious red leaf shoots from the evergreen foliage with creamy-white flowers from April; Growth height 130 cm
    • Katsura: Robust variety that sets impressive accents with wine-red shoots; Growth height 80-100 cm
    • Flamingo: Purple bell-shaped flowers above evergreen, glossy leaves from March to May; Growth height 100-120 cm
    • Variegata: Fantastically beautiful shadow bells with creamy-white variegated foliage; Growth height up to 100 cm

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Herbs