Heath and Heather
Erica species and Caluna vulgaris (ERICACEAE)
Planting and Growing Heath and Heather
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow heath and heather in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, fruit, and seeds or nuts of heath and heather
- Growing conditions for heath and heather
- When and where to plant heath and heather
- How to plant heath and heather
- How to shape, prune and control growth of heath and heather
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of heath and heather
- Landscape uses of heath and heather
- Pest and disease control for heath and heather
Growing Heath and Heather
The heather family includes over 500 species of slow-growing, branching or spreading, evergreen shrubs or small trees, usually 1–6 ft. (30–180 cm) tall, with tiny, heatherlike needles or leaves. Dwarf and ground cover species available.
Scots heather, Calluna vulgaris, is a close relative with similar care needs.
Heath and Heather Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Abundant tiny, green, purple, rose, white, yellow flowers in late winter–early spring or summer–autumn, depending on species, form seedy capsules in summer.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–10, depending on species.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 5.0–6.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 3 ft. (90 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Fertilize semi-annually in early spring and midsummer. Prune or shear after bloom. Protect from sun in hot climates. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for borders, edgings, ground covers, massed plantings in arid, rock gardens. Attracts bees. Pest and disease resistant.
Common Species of Heath
Heath species:
-
- Erica arborea, tree heath
- Erica baccans, berry heath
- Erica canaliculata, Christmas heather
- Erica carnea, spring heath
- Erica ciliaris, fringed heath
- Erica cinerea, Scots heath
- Erica doliiformis, everblooming French heather
- Erica hyemalis, white winter heather
- Erica mediterranea, Irish heath
- Erica melanthera, black-eyed heath
- Erica scoparia, Besom heath
- Erica tetralix, cross-leaved heath
- Erica vagans, Cornish heath
Heather:
-
- Calluna vulgaris, Scots heather
About Heath and Heather
There are many species in the Erica genus of heath plants, while the Calluna genus of heather numbers but a single species. Both are part of the flowering plant family Ericaceae.
Native to Europe, Mediterranean Africa, and South Africa, they either are hardy or semi-hardy and grow in climates as cold as U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zone 5.
Heaths bear profuse displays of tiny, dainty, nodding, cup- or bell-shaped, sometimes tubular flowers with pink, red, or white corollas and pink stamens.
Their flowers appear in summer and persist until midautumn or even winter.
The heaths are fast-growing shrubs that range in height from 1–6 ft. (30–180 cm) tall and wide, depending on the species.
Use them as foundation in the landscape or in massed plantings, as borders or edgings, or as seasonal accents in full or filtered sun.
Arrange cut sprays of heath frequently as delicate floral arrangements.
Species are resistant to pests and diseases. Prune or shear them to avoid plants becoming open and lanky. Prune them after their flowers fade in autumn.
Many new heath cultivars from a variety of species are made available each spring. Choose from among the most popular species of heath, listed above.
Planting and Caring for Heath and Heather
Heath and its close relative, heather, are low- to medium-height shrubs, and are of the essence of what many think of when they picture English cottage gardens.
Growing from a short, woody trunk, branches are covered with feathery, needlelike foliage. These needles are glossy green or yellow, providing year-round landscape color.
When heath and heather flowers appear, the plants become carpets or mounds filled with tiny, clustered flowers.
Many hundreds of named cultivars of heath exist, greatly expanding the ranges of flower and foliage colors and times of bloom available in wild species.
Plant heaths in a moist, well-drained, sandy, acidic soil rich in organic humus. Avoid soils high in clay.
Heaths grow best in locations with full sun in mild-summer climates and should receive sun protection in hot-summer areas.
Apply an acid fertilizer annually in early spring, then repeat after the plants’ buds begin to form.
Shear heaths annually after their blooms fade to maintain dense foliage and control their shape.
The heaths are good companions for other plants that prefer acidic soil conditions, including many spring and summer bulbs, some annual and perennial flowers, as well as deep-forest trees and shrubs.
Heaths and heathers are unmatched foliage plants that soften landscape gardens with their delicate foliage, yet bring striking color in late summer, when most annuals and perennials fade.