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Heather is a shrubby plant that grows long racemes of tiny bell-like flowers in soft pinks, lavender, copper, green, gold, magenta, red and white. The common heather is Calluna vulgaris and is the only true Scots heather about which poetic Gaelic prose has been penned. The plant is found growing in acidic poor soils in its native Europe and Asia Minor and is a popular landscape plant in the United States. Heather has a long history of use as an aromatic oil, stuffing for pillows, potpourri ingredient and even as a broom. The fresh scent of heather is hard to…
Pink heather, more formally known as Phyllodoce empetriformis, is a type of perennial shrub existing in sub-alpine to alpine zones on the western half of the United States and Canada. They are evergreen, with flowers that bloom between July and November depending on the shrub variety.
All heathers, including pink heather, benefit from pruning annually or bi-annually. Without pruning, the plants become unproductive and gangly. Pink heather grows easily in the right climate, but dwindles in areas with hot, dry summers and alkaline soils. Select a pink heather known to grow well in your area and climate.
Erica canaliculata is an evergreen shrub that blooms in tall panicles of pink or purple flowers. The shrub grows from 5 to 6 feet in height, with a 4-foot spread. Although its official hardiness zones are 8 through 11 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map, cold hardiness depends upon variety. Different species may be native to South Africa, the Mediterranean, or northern Europe. Pruning the E. canaliculata should be done annually, right after the plant blooms.
Heather, Calluna vulgaris, and its closely related cousin heath both grow naturally throughout Europe, and often get confused for each other. Both plants require the same type of growing conditions, but heather has more upright growing habits, while heaths have matting growing habits. Heather plants produce small bell-shaped flowers colored red, purple, pink or white. Leaves range from dull green to reddish or brown in color.
Plants that require good drainage grow well in retaining walls. The porous wall materials alleviate the build-up of excess moisture around plant roots. Heathers thrive in this type of situation. They are matte-forming evergreen plants with shallow root systems. They will provide your walls with texture and color throughout the seasons.
Heather is low-growing evergreen shrub that puts out small single or double flowers and needle-like leaves. The flowers range from white to pink, red and purple. It has the added benefit of being attractive to bees. Michigan State University says heather does well in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 6. Planting heather in your garden is a straightforward task.
Native to the British Isles, Erica carnea, also known as heath or heather, is a low-growing shrub that will reach heights of about 12 inches at maturity. Spiky, pink, white or red blooms adorn the plant after the snow melts in late winter and early spring, lasting for several months. During the summer, the foliage is bright green. Three of the most common cultivars include King George, which sports bright crimson blooms, and Springwood White or Springwood Pink. Erica carnea will thrive with very little attention, and is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8.
According to New Jersey Institute of Technology website, there are hundreds of heather plant varieties, some of which blossom during the winter months. Although heather plants prefer cooler weather, harsh winter conditions can cause injury and plant death.
Heather adds evergreen foliage to the landscape. This grassy shrub also produces an abundance of small pink or red flowers through the summer months. A cold-tolerant plant, heather survives periods of freezing weather but may require protection during prolonged cold snaps. It grows best in mild areas and does not survive extended periods of hot weather. Heather requires little maintenance when grown in the proper type of soil. Plant heather from healthy nursery plants, as the seeds are slow to start and do not always germinate well.
Common to many parts of the British Isles, heather is a bushy shrub that covers hillside and heath, especially in Scotland, Ireland, and the moors of England, where it is often known as "ling." Many hillsides have a purple haze from the wild-growing heather that provides food for wildlife. The seeds attract birds and red grouse enjoy the young, tender shoots.
Italian heather, also called Mediterranean heather or Darley heath, is a low-growing evergreen native to warm climates. Its rounded, bushy shape and tendency to spread make it a perfect ground cover. It blooms in late spring to early summer with tiny, bell-shaped pink or white flowers. Many gardeners use Italian heather in rocky areas and rock gardens, or as edges to walkways and larger garden plots. It's also good for decorating steep hillsides and other difficult-to-cultivate areas.
Heather is a robust, colorful perennial shrub that is native in cold, damp climates and can grow well in rocky, acidic soil with little to no fertilizer. Heather foliage comes in a wide range of colors including pink, red, copper, bronze, silver and an array of varying greens. This plant also flowers in colors such as white, purple, amethyst, red and pink, amongst others. Planting a variety of heather in your yard will provide a bright setting with a brilliant canvas of colors to add great appeal to your landscaping.
Heather is an evergreen branching shrub that is found throughout Western Europe, Northeastern North America and Siberia. According to the North American Heather Society, the term "heather" is inclusive of both the winter blooming Erica varieties (heaths) and the spring through fall blooming Calluna varieties (heather). Though these perennials are cold-hardy to zone 5, they can suffer damage in extremely cold winters where there is not adequate snow coverage to protect them from wind and frost. This can result in winter kill if other methods of protection are not used.
