The Lüneburg Heath, which blooms magnificently in late summer, is a very popular destination. The heather responsible for this is robust and insect-friendly. Find out here how to plant and care for Calluna vulgaris in your garden.
Calluna vulgaris is easy to care for and extremely popular. In addition, it is a low-growing plant that is also suitable as a ground cover. And nectar is in great demand, especially for insects. In this article, you will find out how to plant and overwinter the common heather.
Common heather: heyday and profile
The table below gives you a brief overview of the perennial common heather.
| Origin | Northern and Central Europe |
| Growth Form | Evergreen dwarf shrub, upright habit |
| Growth | Between 30 and 50 cm |
| Flowering | August to November, depending on variety |
| Flower Colors | Mostly pink to slightly violet, there are also white varieties |
| Leaf Shape | Narrow, needle-shaped leaves, scale-like lying on the stem |
The terms common heather, bud heather and snow heather are often used synonymously. But that's not quite right:
- What is the difference between common heather and bud heather? Varieties of the common heather that never fully open their flowers, but only let the colorful petals peek out, are called bud heathers or bud-blooming heathers. This ensures that the flowers are not pollinated and last longer. Examples of bud heathers are the "Gardengirls" and the "Beautyladys", which are not varieties but brand names of breeders.
- Difference between common heather and common heather: Common heather (Erica carnea) and common heather belong to different heather genera, but both are members of the heather family (Ericaceae). You can find out more about the Schneeheide in ourRead the special article.
Is common heather bee friendly?
The common heather is very bee-friendly and the nectar on the flowers is easily accessible. The flowers of Calluna vulgaris are frequented by insects such as bees and bumblebees, but also by butterflies. Only the bud heathers and double varieties of Calluna vulgaris described above, for example 'Annabell', are not suitable as bee pasture.
The most beautiful Calluna vulgaris varieties
There are many different varieties of common heather available in garden shops. Below we present the most important varieties of Calluna vulgaris .
- ‘Carmen’: The double, purple flowers open in their raceme-shaped inflorescences in August and September. The dark green leaves provide a nice contrast. The growth height is between 30 and 40 cm.
- 'Darkness': This is a cultivar with dense trusses of purple flowers that bloom from August to October. With a height of 30 to 40 cm, 'Darkness' is relatively small. The leaves on the dense shoots are light green.
- ‘Firefly’: The leaves are special on this variety. First appearing brown-yellow in autumn, they turn bright orange in winter. The flowers are dark pink and bloom from August to September. A maximum growth height of 45 to 50 cm is reached.
- ‘Jana’: This variety is characterized by its small stature and late flowering period. The pink to red double flowers appear from September to November. This variety grows between 20 and 30 cm with light green leaves.
- 'Kinlochruel': This common heather shows its double white flowers between August and October. With a growth height of 30 cm, it is also relatively small. The leaves are colored green.
Planting Calluna: location, time and procedure
Planting of common heather is recommended in late summer or autumn. The location in the garden should be sunny to slightly semi-shady. A sandy soil with a humus content is optimal, good drainage is important for the common heather in the garden, as waterlogging and dense soil are not tolerated. In addition, the pH of the soil should be acidic. If you have a rather loamy soil, you can adapt it to the conditions of the Calluna . sandensures a looser structure of the soil. Acidic soil - such as our low-peat Plantura organic acidic soil - also loosens and ensures the right pH value at the same time. Peat is an ideal basis for many bog plants because it ensures a lower pH value and protects against drying out. However, since peat is also a valuable raw material, we made a conscious decision to produce our acidic soil with less peat - and thus offer a sustainable alternative to conventional bog soil.
Calluna vulgaris makes an excellent ground cover plant with a distance of about 20 cm between the plants. Planted in smaller or larger groups, common heather looks and grows well. They should not be planted individually, otherwise the plants cannot form a beautiful carpet of flowers - the effect as a ground cover is lost. They are also much more sensitive to frost.
Tip: Before planting, it is important that you loosen the heather root ball with your hands to allow the roots to grow in as well as possible. Soil should be kept moderately dry to moist. It is essential to avoid waterlogging.
Heather on the balcony: The heather can also be planted on the terrace and balcony. A sunny balcony is good, otherwise it is too shady. Acidic soil can be mixed with perlite or about 30% crushed expanded clay to ensure adequate drainage and avoid waterlogging. If the heather in the pot is completely dry, a quick water bath is helpful. To do this, the pot can be immersed until no air bubbles rise. When planting in a pot, you should first consider how many plants you want to plant. Because here, too, it is absolutely necessary to keep the planting distance, so that you still have something of the common heather after one season. Depending on the number of plants, a sufficiently large planter should then be selected in which the common heather has sufficient root space. The soil should always be kept moderately moist.
Care for common heather
Heather is very robust and easy to care for. In order to ensure vigorous and beautiful growth, a few minor points must be observed when caring for them.
Water and fertilize
The soil in whichCalluna vulgaris planted must not be too dry. In this respect, regular watering is absolutely necessary. Lime-free rainwater is particularly suitable for this.
Fertilizing the common heather in spring is also recommended for he althy growth. Since the plants prefer acidic soil, an appropriate fertilizer is also appropriate. For example, our Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer, which consists of 100% natural raw materials, is suitable. For he althy growth, the Beseheide has an increased need for nitrogen and potassium. The fertilizer does justice to this with its specially designed composition. The fertilizer is also well suited for common heather growing in pots.
Pruning heather
Pruning common heather is essential to ensure he althy growth and lush flowering. In spring, i.e. in March or April, the cut should be made when the weather is cloudy. Last year's new shoots can be cut back by about half. The plants are not very sensitive to this, and large areas can also be cut with hedge trimmers or brush cutters.
Is Calluna vulgaris hardy?
Basic heather is hardy. Nevertheless, you should mulch your plants before the first winter, as the winter hardiness has not yet fully developed. After the first year, frosty temperatures Calluna vulgaris can no longer harm them. However, it is essential to ensure that there is sufficient moisture, especially when it neither snows nor rains in winter, because winter drought can damage the plants permanently. Water your heather on mild days.
Propagating heather
The easiest way to propagate the common heather is to use sinkers. To do this, the shoot is pressed to the ground in autumn, covered with some soil and weighed down so that it remains underground. With contact with the ground and sufficient moisture, roots form and over time a new plant develops that can even be transplanted in spring next autumn.
Use and effect of common heather
As early as the 19th century, Calluna vulgaris was used in medicine. Respiratory and urinary tract diseases were treated with an infusion. But all kinds of skin irritations could also be alleviated with the common heather. Today it is mainly used to produce heather honey.
Is Calluna vulgaris poisonous?
Neither flowers nor leaves of Calluna vulgaris are poisonous to cats, dogs or humans. The common heather can therefore be planted in the garden or on the balcony without any problems.
Are you interested in autumn flowers? In our special article we present the most beautiful autumn flowers.