Heather basics

http://www.northamericanheathersoc.org/
August on European moorlands
 These are Calluna vulgaris
– called Callunas by heather folk
Other heathers flower at different times.
You could have heathers in flower most
months of the year.
Heathers grown in N. America come from
Europe. They grow along cooler parts of
each coast and in some interior locations.
Ericaceae Rhododendron
family Arbutus
Huckleberry
Cranberry
e a re :
e s u s
Th gen e
e t h
:
h
t hin
i
w ilyt Calluna
fam Erica
Daboecia
Ericaceae Rhododendron
family Arbutus
Huckleberry
Cranberry
:
:
These 3 Calluna
genera
are called Erica
Heathers Daboecia
All heathers keep their leaves year round.
Identification by leaf characteristics.

Daboecia
Erica
Calluna
 CALLUNA

There are more

than 1200
heather varieties.
Over half of
them are Callunas.
 Single and double flowering varieties.
All flower during August and September.
CV 'Strawberry Delight'

CV 'Anthony Davis'

CV 'Yvette's Gold'
 Varieties classified as “Bud Bloomers”
never open. They show colour much
longer and later than the regular varieties.
Many Callunas have brilliant year-round
foliage colour.
Rotfuchs
Some also have brilliant new growth tips
into early summer.
Calluna summary

Flowers August /September

Fondy plant 40 cm high
- a few varieties are lower
Foliage colours are a
very valuable feature
Dramatic new growth colours
on some varieties
ERICA
Unlike Callunas, there are a multitude of
Erica species providing flower colour in
most months of the year.

arborea
carnea
cinerea
erigena
tetralix
vagans
darleyensis
Two summer -flowering Erica species.
Here are winter-flowering Erica carnea.
Here is winter-flowering Erica x darleyensis
which is a long-flowering hybrid.
Erica summary

Different varieties can be

in flower most of the year
Big colour range and plant size range
Some brilliant colours available
Winter-flowering Erica x darleyensis
and summer-flowering Erica vagans
are very easy to grow
DABOECIA
Daboecia have larger flowers than other
heathers. They flower all summer.
Unlike other heathers,
the flowers are not
retained when they
die so the
plant has
a fresh
look.
A brilliant summer display of Daboecia.
 Here are Daboecia mixed with
summer-blooming Ericas and with the
colourful foliage of Callunas.
Daboecia summary
Flowers from mid-summer
through to November

Much larger individual flowers

than either Calluna or Erica

Always a fresh looking plant

– dead flowers drop off
The end

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