Comprehensive Guide to Growing Heather, Erica, and Calluna Shrubs

Small, hardy evergreen shrubs that grow wild throughout Europe and a few locations in North America belong to the Ericaceae family and derive their name from kallunein, meaning to sweep. Their branches can be used as brooms. Of these species only one is commonly recognized: Callunas vulgaris or Scotch Heather has many varieties which differ greatly in stature, flower color and leaf hues.

Heathers are characteristic of moorland environments and flourish across Europe in abundance, often covering hundreds of acres in places with little or no lime in the soil. Although sold as pot plants by florists as heathers, more accurately they belong to Erica’s botanical genus Erica and should be known as heaths instead.

Callunas Are Perfect For Peaty and Sandy Soils. Callunas thrive in peaty and sandy soil environments; however, where lime-rich conditions exist. While these hardy flowers are hardy in New York City climate, their best qualities lie more natural planting environments where irregular masses form naturally. Although Callunas can be used in formal beds as an ornamental feature, their true potential can only be appreciated through more natural designs where their irregular growth pattern becomes evident.

They do not perform well in wet, poorly drained soils; before planting they must simply be dug over and the small plants placed 12-18 in. apart at planting time in early fall or spring. Once established they pose no major difficulties as long as their location is sunny; any old shoots should be pruned off prior to new growth beginning each spring before new shoots emerge, while winter protection such as branches laid over them by evergreen trees is beneficial in harsher climates.

When to Take Cuttings. Young shoots that are 1″ or so in length should be placed into a firm bed of sandy peat in July or August for outdoor planting; or in a greenhouse during fall for greenhouse cultivation.

Branchs attached to growing plants may be weighted down with stones and covered with sandy soil outside in spring for two-year old plants to emerge as rooted ones later. Common heather can be grown from seeds sown either indoors, in cold frames or out-doors on flats of sandy peat or beds of sandy peat – no soil covering needed as seeds must remain shaded until germination takes place; selected varieties do not reproduce true from seeds.