calluna vulgaris plants for sale

Discover the Beautiful Calluna Vulgaris Heather Plants for Sale

As a landscaper and gardener, I’m always on the lookout for interesting evergreen shrubs that provide year-round interest One of my favorites is Calluna vulgaris, commonly known as Scotch heather or ling. This versatile hardy perennial is prized for its delightful flowers and colorful foliage

In this article, I’ll highlight some of the best Calluna vulgaris cultivars and provide tips for using these enchanting heather plants in gardens and landscapes. Whether you’re looking for winter blooms, vivid leaf colors or ground cover, read on to discover these must-have heathers for sale.

About Calluna Vulgaris

Calluna vulgaris is native to Europe, Iceland and Asia Minor. These small shrubs reach 1-2 feet tall and wide at maturity, with tiny needle-like leaves and bell-shaped summer flowers in white, pink or purple.

Here are some key features that make Calluna vulgaris so popular:

• Evergreen foliage in green, gray, gold and reddish tones
• Profuse late summer blooms on upright spikes
• Neat, mounding habit perfect for beds, borders and rock gardens
• Tolerates poor, acidic soils
• Requires good drainage
• Attracts bees and butterflies

Let’s explore some of the many excellent Calluna cultivars available for sale.

Top Calluna Vulgaris Varieties

Many nurseries and online stores offer potted Calluna plants for sale. Here are some of my favorite varieties to look for:

‘Blazeaway’

Vibrant brick-red winter foliage and bright lavender-pink summer flowers make this a real standout. The foliage takes on golden and orange highlights in summer too.

‘Firefly’

Prized for its fiery red-orange winter foliage, this variety bears deep reddish purple blooms in late summer. A first-rate foliage plant.

‘Dark Beauty’

As the name suggests, this cultivar has deep maroon-red double blooms and dark green evergreen needles. Very showy and elegant.

‘Martha Hermann’

A choice ground cover heather with snowy white flowers over a spreading mat of vivid green foliage. Great for mass planting.

‘October White’

One of the latest to bloom, with frosty white spires in fall set against green needles that bronze in winter.

‘Silver Knight’

Favored for its striking silver-gray wooly foliage that takes on rich wine-red hues in winter. Purple summer blooms.

‘Spring Torch’

Bright golden spring foliage matures to green. Light pink flowers contrast nicely against the foliage.

How to Use Calluna Vulgaris in Gardens

Thanks to their neat form and year-round appeal, Calluna vulgaris heathers are easy to incorporate into gardens. Here are some tips:

• Mass in drifts or sweeping swaths for bold texture and flower color.

• Use as a colorful ground cover or edging plant.

• Tuck into rock gardens, stone walls, and alpine beds.

• Feature in containers for seasonal interest on patios and porches.

• Mix with bulbs and perennials that thrive in acidic soil.

• Plant as a low hedge or border along paths and driveways.

• Allow some plants to spread naturally as a ground cover.

Caring for Calluna Vulgaris

Calluna heathers thrive with minimal care. Here are some growing tips:

• Choose a site with full sun to partial shade and sandy, acidic soil. Improve drainage if needed.

• Water first year plants regularly until established. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant.

• Apply slow release fertilizer for acid-loving plants in early spring. Avoid excess nitrogen.

• Prune lightly after blooming to shape and remove spent flowers. Avoid shearing into old wood.

• Watch for aphids, mites and heather beetles and treat any infestations promptly.

• Protect from harsh winter winds in exposed areas. Mulch around plants in cold climates.

• Propagate by taking semi-ripe cuttings in summer or sowing seeds in fall.

Discover Classic Heather Beauty

Known for their elegance and adaptability, Calluna vulgaris perfectly blends flower power and foliage appeal. You’ll find these enchanting heather plants available at many garden centers and nurseries that carry perennials and shrubs.

When shopping for Callunas, look for dark green, healthy foliage and well-rooted, compact plants. Select varieties that bloom at different times for the longest season of color. Then plant your heathers in drifts or groupings to highlight their natural beauty.

With minimal care, these classic shrubs provide vintage garden charm and flowering highlights from summer until frost. Their fine textures and forms also make them perfect partners for bulbs, grasses, conifers and rock garden specimens.

If you appreciate unique evergreens and late summer blooms, consider incorporating Calluna heathers into your outdoor space. Let these captivating shrubs weave their floral magic in your beds, borders and rockeries!