Common heather ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (heather)

origin

Calluna vulgaris is as Heather or summer heather. It is the only species within the genus Calluna and belongs to the heather family. Their natural home is in Central and Northern Europe with a main distribution in regions shaped by the Ice Age. To the west, their area extends to Western Siberia.

The common heather is considered to be an acid pointer, as it occurs mainly in moors and heaths. Dunes and light forests are other habitats that the shrub colonizes. It occurs in the lowlands and conquers altitudes of up to 2,700 meters. Calluna vulgaris came into the gardens 150 years ago, and has graced various plant arrangements there ever since.

growth

Calluna vulgaris is a woody dwarf shrub that is evergreen and grows relatively slowly. This allows the plant to reach an age of 40 years. Common heather grows between 30 and 100 centimeters high and forms a compact and tightly upright appearance. As a deep root, it develops a network of roots that extends deep into the substrate. They live in symbiosis with root fungi, which they also supply with nutrients.

leaves

In contrast to other heather plants, common heather develops scale-shaped leaves, the blade of which lies close to the branch. The leaves are leathery, coarse and curled upwards. They sit opposite on the stem axis and are only a few millimeters long. The color of the foliage varies depending on the variety from glossy dark green to yellow to silver-gray.

blossom

From late summer, Calluna vulgaris develops lush flowers that last into autumn. Some varieties begin to bloom in August and the last blooms in late bloomers come in November. Common heather bloom for the first time from the age of four years. The flowers crowd together in a racemose inflorescence. They stand nodding on the stalk and are made up of four. The petals and sepals are colored the same and only differ in their length. The sepals tower above the inconspicuous crown.

The color spectrum of the wild form varies between white, pink and purple. Cultivated forms shine in yellow, bordeaux red, purple or blue. Bud heather is a special form in which the buds do not open. They impress with different bud colors for up to two months, but cannot be propagated by seeds. The flowering varieties are more intense in color. Their bloom remains for four to five weeks.

use

Common heather are extremely robust and weatherproof, which makes them popular potted plants. The new varieties impress with their intense colors. Colorful pot gardens can be created with these specimens. Calluna vulgaris is ideal for the heather garden. It harmonizes with other bog plants such as rhododendrons.

Make sure that the plant partners do not grow too high. The common heather is very hungry for light and dies in the vicinity of dense and tall companion plants. You can plant juniper, gorse or rosemary heather as little shade-throwing shrubs. Common heather grow in company with crowberries or lingonberries. The dwarf forms of conifers such as pine or spruce are also suitable as plant partners.

In addition to aesthetic functions, the sun-hungry dwarf shrub also plays an important role as a supplier of food. The sweet nectar provides wild bees and Bumblebees Food. Common heather are popular crops on bee pastures and are often used to obtain the valuable heather honey. Flowering heather and bud heather are often planted as grave decorations.

bonsai

Calluna vulgaris can be grown as a bonsai despite its bushy habit. Because of its slow growth, it takes a long time to develop into a tree-like shape with a main trunk. Plants that have already developed a deep root system are not suitable for bonsai cultivation. Since the roots have to be severely shortened, these specimens will not survive transplanting. To promote a shallow root network, a thick layer of mulch with sufficient soil moisture helps.

Tips for Bonsai Cultivation:

• Substrate mixture of peat, akadama and lava in a ratio of 30:10:60
• Cut back flower spikes regularly as they can grow to a length of 30 centimeters
• thrive in bowls in sunny outdoor locations

Edible

The common heather was already in the 19th Used as a medicinal plant in the 19th century. Even today, flowers and shoots serve as the basis for making tinctures and teas. The dark heather honey not only sweetens teas, but also spicy breads. There is no danger to children or pets.

Which location is suitable?

Summer heather thrive in sunny or bright places. The dwarf shrubs tolerate partially shaded conditions if the substrate meets their requirements. Common heather find optimal conditions in bog beds and heather gardens.

What soil does the plant need?

The substrate should ensure high permeability and not be too moist. Soils with varying degrees of moisture do not cause the plants any problems. A sandy soil with humus proportions is ideal. Common heather grow on acidic soils. The pH value should not be above 6.5. Rhododendron soil offers the dwarf shrubs optimal growth conditions.

In calcareous soil, you can mix oak leaves or coniferous litter to lower the pH. Pure clay soils should be made with sand or humus be mixed. If you cultivate your heather temporarily in the bucket, you can use commercially available Potting soil To fall back on.

Propagate common heather

Calluna vulgaris can be propagated by subscribers. With this method, you bend side branches of a strong plant to the ground and scratch the shoot at the deepest point crosswise. You can fix the end of the side branch in the ground with a long hairpin or stones, with the tip of the shoot sticking out of the earth. As soon as the sinker sprouts again at the top, it has developed roots. Separate the side branch from the mother plant.

sowing

Propagation via seeds is possible. You need to be patient before you can collect the ripe fruits from your heather. It takes a few years for the dwarf shrubs to bloom for the first time.

Cuttings

Common heather can be propagated by so-called cracks. This type of cuttings is not cut, but torn down from the trunk in one swift movement. This will tear off a piece of bark, which will later serve as a growth driver on the ten centimeter long side shoot.

Fill a planter with a mixture of sand and rhododendron or bog soil and insert the crack into the substrate. Moisten the soil and cover the planter with a glass or a clear plastic bag. This keeps the humidity constant. Over the next three weeks, the cracks develop roots and can be pricked out.

Common heather in a pot

Common heather are perfect potted plants that provide atmospheric moments in autumn. They are suitable for planting Window boxes,(€ 7.99 at Amazon *) Clay pots or wicker baskets. You can let your creativity run free in the design. The heather plants can be planted individually or in groups with different colored varieties. They harmonize perfectly with gentians, sedums, ivy or Horned violets. Grasses provide appealing accents.

Here are some things to look out for:

• Use a vessel with a water outlet to prevent waterlogging
• Use buckets that are large enough to allow roots to spread
• use conventional potting soil with high structural stability

Water heather

Calluna vulgaris is an undemanding plant that should be watered regularly for the first year after planting. A pouring unit is necessary as soon as the top soil layer has dried. You should water more often on sandy soils than on less well drained substrates. Align the irrigation units according to precipitation and temperature. Water more frequently in warm and dry times than in cool, rainy periods.

Well-grown plants need less watering. You can look forward to an additional water supply in long dry periods. Water the plants on frost-free days even in winter, as the evergreen shrubs do not stop their metabolism. Potted plants need a little more care. They enjoy regular watering.

Fertilize heather properly

If you've planted your common heather in rhododendron soil, you won't need the dwarf shrub until the next year fertilize. Use a fertilizer for rhododendrons, as this has an acidic effect and provides the plants with all the essential nutrients and trace elements.

Do not fertilize well-rooted specimens more than twice a year. An oversupply of nutrients damages the plants and makes them more susceptible to fungal diseases. Common heather is fertilized for the first time from the second year between April and May. A further supply of nutrients takes place between July and August. The soil should be sufficiently moist and must not dry out in the following 14 days.

Cut heather properly

In the spring, remove the withered inflorescences from last year. This measure stimulates the growth of the dwarf shrubs so that they develop numerous fresh flowers in the next blooming phase. With a cut back, you can prevent the lower areas from becoming bald. Be careful not to cut back into the old wood. Common heather then sprout poorly.

How do I transplant properly?

If the heather has to be replanted due to lack of space or lack of light, you should pay attention to the weather. Choose a cool and humid day for this measure to prevent the roots from drying out. If the summer is very hot and dry, you should wait until October. After a rainy summer, you can start transplanting as early as September.

Before digging up the plant, it should be cut back. A balanced ratio between leaf mass and root ball is ideal so that the dwarf shrub can regenerate itself well in the new location. Avoid pruning back into the old wood, otherwise the heather will look unsightly and will sprout poorly.

Hardy

Calluna vulgaris is hardy and can withstand temperatures in the double-digit minus range without any problems. It doesn't need any special winter protection. So that the soil does not freeze in particularly cold winter months, you should spread brushwood and fir branches on the substrate. Water the plants on frost-free days. Since they do not shed their leaves, the dwarf shrubs need water even in winter. Long periods of dryness or frozen ground cause leaves and twigs to die off.
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Pests

Aphids and Spider mites are among the pests that often attack common heather. Weak shrubs are particularly affected. If your plant is affected, you should review the care measures. Over-fertilization is the most common cause of pest infestation. You can remove the pests with a sharp jet of water.

Fungal attack

Waterlogging in the soil and damp weather offer fungal spores ideal growth conditions. Calluna vulgaris is often attacked by Phytophthora or gray mold. The real mildew is a fair weather mushroom that spreads in dry and warm weather.

Wilt fungus

The sensitive roots of the common heather rot quickly when waterlogging forms in the soil. Under these conditions, the plants are often attacked by a wilt fungus from the genus Phytophthora. In young plants, a fungal attack leads to sudden drying up. Older specimens show stunted growth. Their leaves turn yellow or red.

If your plant is affected, you should remove the diseased growth immediately. This will prevent the spores from spreading to other shrubs. A cure with fungicidal special agents helps as a preventive measure.

Gray mold

When the humidity is high, gray mold spreads on the parts of the plant. The spores settle in the lower area, which is poorly ventilated. They can also damage flowers and shoots. Heavy infestation will cause rotting, so act quickly and treat the plant with an antidote.

Powdery mildew

A floury white coating on the parts of the plant indicates an infestation by powdery mildew. The lower leaves of affected plants often turn reddish in color. As a preventive measure, you should not give your plant any nitrogenous fertilizers. They make the tissue soft, which allows the spores to settle better. Means against fungicides help against an infestation.

Common heather does not bloom

If the plant only blooms weakly or not at all, the cause may be too high a salt content in the substrate, an excessive supply of nutrients or waterlogging.

sorts

• Dark Beauty: Flowers shine burgundy, double. Blooms from September to October. Grows ten to 20 centimeters high.
• Garden girls: Bud heaths that keep their buds until December. Growth height 20 to 30 centimeters.
• Silver Queen: Develops silver-gray foliage. Flowers from September to November, flowers purple. Weak growth, between 35 and 50 centimeters high.
• Boskoop: Yellow foliage, turns orange to copper in autumn. Flowers mauve, flowering time from August to September. Height between 20 and 30 centimeters.
• Peter Sparkes: Double flowers, deep pink. Grows between 30 and 45 centimeters tall.
• Zeta: Yellow-green foliage. Does not develop flowers or buds. Height of growth 25 to 40 centimeters.