Calluna vulgaris: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Plants were used to make brooms.
Plant Profile: Calluna vulgaris
Taxonomy: Calluna vulgarisNames
Scotch Heather, Scottish Heather
Phonetic Spelling:kal-LOO-nah vul-GAIR-iss
Genus:Calluna
Species:vulgaris
Family:Ericaceae
This plant serves well as a groundcover and can thrive in less-than-ideal soil conditions. To maintain its appearance and prevent bare stems, it’s advisable to prune it each spring.
When it comes to pests and diseases, scale and spider mites may pose challenges. Additionally, during hot and humid summers, particularly in Southern regions, stem rot can become an issue.
Calluna vulgaris Feature Summary
Calluna vulgaris Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#showy flowers
#purple flowers
#pink flowers
#low maintenance
#rock gardens
#background
#shrub borders
Similar Plants
Calluna vulgaris is often confused with:
Calluna vulgaris Feature Summary
Attributes
Plants were used to make brooms.
Eurasia
Perennial
Woody
Flowers
Rose to purplish-pink flowers are on 1"-12" one-sided raceme. They bloom from summer to fall.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Raceme
Summer
Fall
< 1 inch
Leaves
Tiny, needle-like leaves are in groups of 4, opposite, simple, and are medium gray-green. They turn from green to bronze to purple winter color.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Gray/Silver
Purple/Lavender
Brown/Copper
Simple
Opposite
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Ground Cover
Broadleaf Evergreen
Dense
Spreading
Ascending
Low
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
Mountains
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
Stem
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Landscape
Rock Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Poor Soil
Slope/Bank
Calluna vulgaris Image Gallery
Calluna vulgaris Attributes
Calluna vulgaris: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eurasia
Calluna vulgaris: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
poor soils
Calluna vulgaris: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Calluna vulgaris Flowers
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Description
Rose to purplish-pink flowers are on 1"-12" one-sided raceme. They bloom from summer to fall.
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Calluna vulgaris: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Calluna vulgaris Leaves
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Description
Tiny, needle-like leaves are in groups of 4, opposite, simple, and are medium gray-green. They turn from green to bronze to purple winter color.
Calluna vulgaris: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Calluna vulgaris: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Calluna vulgaris: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Calluna vulgaris: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Calluna vulgaris Whole Plant Traits
Calluna vulgaris: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Calluna vulgaris: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Calluna vulgaris: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Calluna vulgaris: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Calluna vulgaris: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Calluna vulgaris Cultural Conditions
Calluna vulgaris: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Calluna vulgaris: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Calluna vulgaris: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Calluna vulgaris: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Calluna vulgaris: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Calluna vulgaris: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
Calluna vulgaris Stem
Calluna vulgaris: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Calluna vulgaris: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Calluna vulgaris Landscape
Calluna vulgaris: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Calluna vulgaris: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Calluna vulgaris: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Calluna vulgaris: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
