Calluna

These small, hardy, evergreen shrubs are found wild in many parts of Europe and some in places of North America. They have little, opposite, four-ranked leaves and spikes of tiny flowers in many different shades. These plants are commonly known as Heather. C. vulgaris, the common Heather, is a small shrub that grows on the mountains and moorland in the northern and western parts of the British Isles. C. vulgaris is the only species, but from it, many varieties which differ greatly in height and color of foliage and flowers, have been developed. C. vulgaris 'Darkness' is a compact bush that grows up to a foot high, with bright green leaves and short, dense clusters of dark purplish-pink flowers, from late summer to early fall. C. vulgaris 'H.E. Beale' is a beautiful shrub that grows up to 2 feet high. It produces racemes of double, bright rosy-pink flowers, from late summer to late fall. It is excellent for cutting. C. vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame' is a gorgeous shrub that grows up to a foot high. It has brilliant orange and yellow foliage in the summer turning copper and gold in the winter. From late summer to early fall, mauve-pink flowers are produced.

Pot Cultivation

Heather will grow in poor, well-drained, acidic soil, in a sunny site. They must not be planted in ground that contains lime. Dig up the soil and place the plants about 36 inches apart, except dwarf species, which can be placed18 inches apart, in early fall or spring. In the spring, before new growth begins, the shoots of the previous year's growth should be pruned off close to their bases. It would be beneficial to provide winter protection by laying evergreen branches over them.

Propagation

Cuttings of young shoots, an inch or so long, can be inserted in a bed of sandy peat in a closed cold frame or covered with a bell jar outside, in July or August. They may also be inserted in sand and peat moss in a greenhouse, in the fall. Branches of growing plants may also be weighted down to the ground and covered with sandy soil outside, in the spring. These may be removed as rooted plants two years later. Seeds of the common Heather may be sown in the spring in flats of sandy peat or in a bed of sandy peat in a cold frame or outside. The seeds don't need to be covered with soil, but must be kept shaded until they sprout. The special named varieties don't come true from seed.

VARIETIES

C. vulgaris & var. Alba Plena, Alba Rigida, Alexandra, Allegro, Annemarie, Anthony Davis, Battle of Arnhem, Beoley Gold, Blazeaway, Boskoop, County Wicklow, Cuprea, Darkness, Dark Star, Drum-ra, Elsie Purnell, Finale, Firefly, Gold Haze, Golden Carpet, Golden Feather, Hammondii Aureifolia, H.E. Beale, J.H. Hamilton, Jimmy Dyce, Joy Vanstone, Kinlockruel, Mair's Variety, Marleen, Melanie, Mullion, Orange Queen, Peter Sparkes, Radnor, Red Star, Robert Chapman, Roland Haagess, Romina, Serlei, Serlei Aurea, Silver Knight, Silver Queen, Silver Rose, Sir John Charrington, Sister Anne, Spitfire, Spring Cream, Sunrise, Sunset, Tib, Underwoodii, White Lawn, Wickwar Flame, Winter Chocolate.