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HEATHERS Calluna
Commonly known as Ling, Scots heather
A patch of heathland for a garden with acidic soil bringing colour and food for bees from July to November. The plant of most moorland in Europe.
Genus of one species of evergreen shrub from lime-free habitats such as moorland, bogs and heathland in northern and western Europe, including Iceland and the Faroe islands. It extends into western Asia (Siberia), northern Morocco and the Azores. It is naturalized in temperate eastern and western North America and is an unwelcome plant in New Zealand and Australia. It is also found in sub-Antarctic islands including Tristan da Cunha.
Hundreds of cultivars exist. Most are valuable bee attracting shrubs but many have been bred with persistently closed buds or "double" flowers which are of no nature value. Heather honey, thicker and difficult to extract, is an important product which is usually sold as comb honey. Other, historical uses for calluna was for beer before hops were used and for besom brooms.
References in literature to heather-clad hills in Scotland refer to C. vulgaris, Common heath. In addition to its common purple colouring it appears naturally in white, the Victorian "lucky white heather".
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EvergreenLinear, slightly fleshy leaves lie flat along the stems. Usually dark-green with purplish tints in winter.
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Ground coverThese plants are typically low growing and spread quickly to inhibit weed growth on areas of bare soilDense racemes of bell-shaped flowers in shades of red, purple, pink or white.
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Full sun
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowWildlife plant - bees (except 'bud-flowering' selections where the buds remain closed).Pests & DiseasesFungal diseases. Grey mould, Phytophthora root rot, rhizoctonia in warm, wet conditions.Place of originNorthern and western Europe to Siberia, Turkey, Morocco and the Azores.Resistant to honey fungusThese plants have little or few problems with honey fungus.
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Soil ConditionsAcid / ericaceous lovingFertile well drained soilHumus rich - open site
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WildlifeBee friendly
![LOPHOMYRTUS x ralphii 'Magic Dragon' LOPHOMYRTUS x ralphii 'Magic Dragon'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/lophomurtus_x_ralphii_magic_dragon_6955.jpg)
LOPHOMYRTUS x ralphii 'Magic Dragon'
![PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum' PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/pittosporum_tenuifolium_atropurpureum_5349a.jpg)
PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum'
![PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Elizabeth' PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Elizabeth'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/pittosporum_tenuifolium_elizabeth_3314a.jpg)
PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Elizabeth'
![PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Silver Queen' PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Silver Queen'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/pittosporum_tenuifolium_silver_queen_5147.jpg)
PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 'Silver Queen'
Buy Varieties of HEATHERS Calluna
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Aphrodite'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_aphrodite.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Aphrodite'
crimson buds
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Dark Beauty'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_dark_beauty_650h.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Dark Beauty'
blood red flowers, compact
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Darkness'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_darkness_5118s.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Darkness'
deep purplish-pink flowers
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Galaxy'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_galaxy.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Galaxy'
yellow-green foliage and white flowers
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Kinlochruel'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_kinlochruel_657.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Kinlochruel'
double white flowers
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Peter Sparkes'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Heather_calluna_vulgaris_peter_sparkes.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Peter Sparkes'
lilac flowers
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Red Beauty'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_red_beauty_5119t.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Red Beauty'
double red flowers
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Sandy'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_sandy.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Sandy'
golden foliage and white flowers
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Cream'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_spring_cream_5330s.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Cream'
foliage green tipped cream, white flowers
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_spring_torch_5329.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch'
foliage green tipped orange, mauve flowers
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/calluna_vulgaris_wickwar_flame_665s.jpg)
HEATHERS Calluna vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame'
gold/red foliage, pink flowers
Useful extras...
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