Scientific Name:
Calluna vulgaris
Pronunciation:
kal-LOO-nuh vull-GAIR-iss
Common Name:
heather
Family Name:
Ericaceae
Plant Type:
Ground cover, Invasive plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves linear, 1-3mm long x 0.3-0.5mm wide, somewhat scale-like, two per node but next pair rotated 90 degrees (forms an 'X' when viewing a short stem section from the end); flower parts in 4's, 4-5mm wide, most cvs. pink-purple, Jul-Oct.
Habit:
Dense, Upright
Form:
Mounded
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Water Use:
High, Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Dried flower or fruit, Group or mass planting, Small garden/space, Spring interest
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Scale-like
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Prickly
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Silver / Grayish
Colour in Fall:
Purple, Bronze
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Decussate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous, Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Violet, Purple, Pink, Red (Depends on cv.)
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Sepals are petal-like and persist after flowering (unlike Erica)
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Additional Info:
Not showy, Persistent
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Red, Brown
Organ Modifications:
Fibrous-like roots, Can spread by layering
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings, Layering
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites, Root rot, Scale insects (Pest resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- CLT Training
- HORT 1155
- Level 1 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (AGB) Acer Griseum Bed
- (ONW) Overpass North side West