When does the heather bloom in 42 regions?

Heather is a decorative plant and can create attractive splashes of color with its flowers. In order to be able to plant them properly and admire their beauty, however, the flowering time of the individual species must be known. Because there are significant differences here. But not only the varieties make a difference, the conditions in the respective region also play a role.

heath species

The types of heather can be roughly divided into two categories: broom heather and heather. The demands on the location and care hardly differ from each other, so that they can easily thrive in the same regions. When it comes to flowering time, however, there is a significant difference. While common heather or Calluna vulgaris, as it is called in botanical jargon, while of the summer and is therefore also referred to as summer heather, the heather brings color to the Winter. For this reason, the heather is appropriately called winter heath.

When the heather blooms depends primarily on the species selected and not on the region alone. This is particularly noticeable with the winter heather, because the different colors and cultivated forms can bloom as early as January, or only in November. The flowering period usually extends into April.

heathland in the north

In heath landscapes in the north, such as the well-known Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony, what is known as common heather primarily thrives – i.e. Calluna vulgaris or summer heather. Due to the climate in the region, the plants flower comparatively late. From around August, the areas of the region become a sea of ​​flowers when the heath blooms. The flowering is relatively short and only lasts until September.

As a rule of thumb and orientation, the Besenheide in the Lüneburg Heath is closed from 08.08. until 09.09. blooms. Depending on the weather and temperatures, these dates can of course be postponed. In warm and rainy years, the flowering period usually starts a little earlier. In poorer conditions, on the other hand, it can take place a few days or weeks later and can also be shorter. In addition to the Lüneburg Heath, there are also in the north:

• Misselhorn Heath
• Great Heath in Oberohe
• Hill grave heath in Kirchlinteln
• Rhododendron Park in Bremen
• Heidegarten Schneverdingen
• Heidegarten Gommern
• Park of Gardens in Bad Zwischenahn
• Störkathener Heide
• Aukrug Nature Park
• Löwenstedt sand mountains
• Braderup Heath

Not all of these heaths are naturally formed landscapes. In some cases, such as the Aukrug Nature Park or the Heidegarten Schneverdingen, the landscapes were laid out and planted by people. This is intended to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.

heathlands in the east

The eastern heathlands are similar to the northern areas. The variety of species with regard to summer and winter heather is lower and the flowering of the common heather starts comparatively late. From the end of August to the beginning of September the landscapes are in full bloom, at least as far as the common heather is concerned.

The Ericaceae or winter heath can appear as early as October. As a rule, however, it turns out to be more sparse overall. Well-known examples of heathland in the east or north-east are:

• Schorfheide in Brandenburg
• Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide
• Wittstock Heath
• Schoenow Heath
• Döberitz Heath
• Ruhland-Königsbrücker Heide
• Elbe-Börde Heide
• Gohrischheide
• Muskauer Heide
• Rustenfelder Heide

Heathlands in the west

The heathlands in the west, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Saarland, have a greater variety of species than in the east and north. Therefore, as in southern Germany, the flowering time is difficult to predict and in turn depends on the respective species. In general, however, the flowering of the common heather begins a little earlier than in the north.

Flowering can begin around the beginning of July. In the case of the heather heather, the flowering period also starts a little earlier and can beautify the landscape from October and last throughout the winter. Thus, the western heath landscapes are usually only not immersed in bloom from March or April to July. Examples of pagans in these regions include:

• Ohlsige Heide
• Senne
• Hommershausen Heath
• sandy heath
• Mehlingen Heath
• Reichskreuzer Heide

heathland in the south

Southern heath landscapes, such as in Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland, offer a significantly greater variety of species than the heaths in the north. In addition to the broom heather respectively Calluna vulgaris Various types of winter heather or heather also thrive here. The Ericaceae flower at different times depending on the exact variety, from November to May. Common heather usually blooms a little earlier in the south than in the north. The region is often in full bloom as early as late July or early August.

However, due to the greater biodiversity of the southern regions, the heather blooms almost all year round. The winter heather begins to bloom in some cases as early as November and shows pink, red or white flowers throughout the winter. Since these are different varieties, the beginning of the flowering period is different in each case and the play of colors changes over the course of the months. Impressive examples of this include:

• Lech valley heaths
• Fröttmaninger Heide
• Borsteler Kuhlen
• Garching Heath
• Bruck forest and heathland nature reserve
• Mallertshofer Heide
• pile heath

Unlike the heathlands to the north, west, and east, these are not Atlantean heaths. In addition to the heather plants, numerous other plant species are also represented, so that the vegetation is generally more varied.

Heath areas in Austria

The further south the heathland is, the greater the biodiversity. This applies not only to Germany, but also to Austria. In Austria, common heather was even voted Plant of the Year 2019. Examples of Austrian heath areas are:

• Wels Heath
• Hommershausen Heath
• Kircheiber Heide
• Eidenberger moor and heath area
• Perchtelsdorf Heath
• Parndorfer Heide
• Blockheide-Gmünd Nature Park

Heathland in Switzerland

Heath landscapes can also be found in Switzerland. As in the south of Germany and in Austria, the areas are assigned to the non-Atlantic pagans. Well-known examples of the heath areas in Switzerland can be found in Bad Ragaz. But Lenzerheide is also a popular destination.

Flowering times in the garden

If you want to plant heather, common heather or Ericaceae in the garden or use them as grave decorations and create the longest possible flowering period, you only have to consider a few points. These are:

Location

Heath is comparatively undemanding, but needs a sunny to partially shaded location. In darker places, it forms only a few flowers and has a shorter flowering period.

Appropriate care

Caring for the heather is very simple and easily possible even for beginners in the cultivation of plants and people without a green thumb. You just have to make sure that the substrate never dries out completely. Rainwater or generally soft, low-lime water is ideal. Fertilizing in the spring with bog bed or rhododendron fertilizer maintains the flowering power. Just like a slight pruning in spring.

Choose the appropriate variety

There are now numerous varieties of heather on the market. Not only the color should be considered. Flowering time and duration should also be factored into the decision, as there are significant differences here. For example, the Erika variety Winter Beauty blooms from around November to April. Golden Starlett, on the other hand, only from March to April. If you plant different varieties, you can enjoy the flowers all year round.

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