How to Grow Calluna – Scotch Heather
Calluna–commonly called Scotch heather– is a spreading evergreen shrub covered with pink, white, red flowers from midsummer to late fall. Calluna thrives in full sun and infertile soil making it an easy-to-grow, low-maintenance addition to the garden.
Garden varieties of Calluna are numerous, many more than species found in the wild. Varieties range from 3 inches (7.6cm) to 36 inches (91cm) tall. Short varieties work well in rock gardens and in crevices in stone walls; tall varieties can be used as a small hedge or as background in borders.
Most Callunas bloom in mid- to late summer; a few bloom in late fall. Foliage which can be deep green, chartreuse, and gray often changes color in winter.
Calluna is a genus of one species of evergreen shrub found on moorland and heaths from North and West Europe to Siberia, Turkey, Morocco, and the Azores.
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Calluna is sometimes confused with Erica species; Erica species bear sepals that are short and the color of the corona is apparent
Get to know Calluna
- Plant type: Evergreen shrub
- Growing Zones and range: 3-8
- Height and width: 4 to 24 inches (10-61cm) tall, 24 to 30 inches (61-76cm) wide
- Form: Low spreading shrub with upright stems covered with tiny bright green leaves; some plants turn red in fall
- Flowers: Tiny, bell-shaped flowers bloom along with the shoot tips in shades of gold, white, rose, lilac, and crimson
- Bloom time: Midsummer to fall
- Uses: Mass planting, edging for walkways, groundcover; attracts bees
- Common name: Scotch heather
- Botanical name: Calluna vulgaris
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: North and West Europe to Siberia, Turkey, Morocco, and the Azores
Where to plant Calluna
- Plant Calluna in full sun.
- Plant Calluna in humus-rich and sandy well-drained soil.
- Plant in acidic soil; grows poorly in acidic soil.
When to plant Calluna
- Set established Calluna in the garden in spring or fall.
Planting and spacing Calluna
- Space Scotch heather 12 to 18 inches (30-45cm) apart.
How to water and feed Calluna
- Keep the soil evenly moist. Too much moisture will cause root rot.
- Give Calluna a light feeding with acid plant food—once in late winter or early spring, a second time in late spring or early summer—to encourage good growth and bloom.
Calluna care
- Mulch around plants in winter.
- Prune off shoots of the previous season in early spring to encourage compact growth.
Calluna pests and diseases
- Calluna are susceptible to attacks by spider mites during hot summers.
Calluna propagation
- Propagate by seed anytime; propagate by cuttings in early summer or by layering in spring (cover part of a low-growing stem with soil until new roots form; then separate it from the parent plant).
Calluna varieties to grow
- Calluna vulgaris, Ling, Scotch heather, variable, prostrate to erect shrub with green to gray, hairless or hairy leaves, .06-.12 inch (2-3mm) long. Bell-shaped or tubular flowers, to .12 inch (3mm) long, are borne in short to long racemes from midsummer to late autumn. To 4-24 inches (10-60cm) tall and 30 inches (75cm) wide. North and West Europe to Russia (Siberia), Turkey, Morocco, the Azores. There are dozens of Calluna cultivars to choose from; here are a few:
- ‘Allegro’ has dark red flowers.
- ‘Beoley Gold’ has yellow foliage.
- ‘County Wicklow’ has pink flowers.
- ‘Gold Haze’ has gold foliage and white flowers.
- ‘Kinlochruel’ has double shite flowers.
- ‘Robert Chapman’ foliage is golden in spring, orange in summer, and reddish in winter.
