Joseph Tychonievich When people mention flowering heather, they are almost always talking about two different genera of plants: heaths and heathers. Although both belong to the Ericaceae family, they are botanically different and are divided into the Calluna genus and the Erica genus. Heath and Heather: Planting Heather may be planted in the fall or early spring so that the plants may become established. Heather needs a minimum of six hours of sun a day. Full sun is better as the foliage colors intensify when fully exposed. Too much shade makes the plants leggy and affects the brilliance of their color.
Heath and Heather Collection White Flower Farm
Winter color? Then try heaths and heathers. These low-growing perennials offer intense color, interesting foliage, and flowers in the home garden. With over 500 cultivars of heather and 700 types of heath, there's plenty to choose from for your garden. What Is the Difference Between Heath and Heather? What to Plant Next to Heather Classic companion planting with heather often includes rhododendrons and azaleas. These plants crave the same acidic soil and consistent moisture on which heathers thrive. You can even fertilize heathers and heath with the rhododendron foods on the market with excellent results. Heather is hardy in USDA zones 4-6. The flowers are a rich nectar source, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Like heath, Heather is not known to be toxic to humans or pets, and deer usually avoid it. Heather requires more moisture than heath and is not considered invasive. Light Heather blooms best in full sun in zones 4 and 5. In zone 6, it will appreciate afternoon shade. Soil Heather requires well-drained soil and does well in sandy soils or rocky terrain. It thrives in peaty, more acidic bogs and moorlands. It does not need fertile soil, it can thrive in poor soils and can tolerate salt spray. Water
Heather And Heath Plant Guide How To Grow Heathers And Heaths
Heath and heather are non-native low-growing evergreen shrubs that hold not only their leaves but also their flowers all winter. Known as spring or winter heath due to its bloom time, Erica carnea has the most delicate, bell-shaped red to pink flowers and whorled to opposite, needle-like, bright green leaves that are barely ½" long. Heath ( Erica) and heather ( Calluna) are members of the Ericaceous family of plants which include such garden favourites as Rhododendron, Azalea, Mountain Laurel and Japanese Pieris. There is often confusion between heath and heather. The heaths are generally spring-blooming, flowering from March to late May. CULTURE SOIL - Well-drained, acidic soil is required. The exception is Erica carnea and Erica x darlyensis, which will tolerate alkalinity. If drainage is a problem, amend soil and plant on a hillside or berm. Keep the soil moist during the first growing season. PLANTING - Be sure to "massage" the root system until they become established. Heathers and heaths benefit from a light prune to keep tidy and improve blooming. Using pruning shears or hand pruners, trim off about 2.5 cm (1 inch) after it flowers and before the new growth begins. Remove any damaged growth. Older or neglected heathers and heaths may become woody and lose their vigour.
All About Heathers The Heather Garden
Calluna (Heather) and Erica (Heath) are flowering evergreens that provide, through a combination of foliage and blooms, a display of showy color all year long. Native to the open uplands of northern England and the hills of Scotland, these plants create a superb carpet for a free-draining sunny bank. Heaths and heathers, scientifically known as Erica or Calluna, are wonderful little mounding evergreen flowering shrubs or subshrubs that establish quickly for a fine textured, dense grouping, groundcover, or border.Rest assured, when you buy heath and heather plants online from Wilson Bros Gardens we safely ship the highest quality container-grown specimens that are ready upon arrival to.
The evergreen shrub tree heather earns its nickname—giant heather—honestly: At maturity it can reach a height of 13 feet. Think of it as a small tree in a shrub's body. Tree heather will burst into flower (tiny flowers) in spring, with tiny white, highly perfumed blossoms. Drought tolerant and happy in either sun or partial shade, Erica. Scientifically, Heather plants are known as Calluna Vulgaris; they almost always make an important addition to your plant collection. However, Heather plants come in many variants, types, and looks. So, here's a list of the best types of heather plants you could have in your garden. Table of Contents Types of Heather Plants
Heath & Heather Collection Collections MCBG Corp. 2023 Fort Bragg, California
Mail Order Heather Specialists. We specialize in the new, the rare and the unusual in heaths and heathers. We have more varieties available than anyone in the United States and one of the largest collections in the world. Our display garden has over 2,000 plants in the ground. The Heather Specialists - On-line Catalog of Unparalleled Selection. Calluna: Heather, Scotch Heather, Ling Calluna comes from the Greek word kallunein, meaning to cleanse, probably because the twigs were used to make brooms. Callunas have just a single species, Calluna vulgaris, but over 800 cultivated forms are in existence. Flowers: Small bell flowers during summer in colors ranging from white to pink to crimson.
