1 named cultivar

‘White Lawn’White Lawn Heather

groundcover

Heather

The Story

Plant Bio

Calluna vulgaris, heather or ling, is a low broadleaf evergreen shrub from Eurasia, four inches to two feet high and spreading one to two feet. Tiny needle-like leaves are held in four opposite ranks along wiry stems, and dense spikes of small urn-shaped flowers in pink, purple or white open from late summer into autumn.

It demands genuinely acid, sharply drained, poor soil — heather fails in ordinary garden ground more often than for any other reason, and no amount of feeding helps. Trim it lightly every spring: unpruned plants go woody and bare at the base within a few years and cannot be cut back into old wood to recover.

Uses & Benefits:

Dense late-summer flower spikes over evergreen foliage that often bronzes in winter.

Thrives on poor acid ground where little else will, and needs no feeding at all.

High-value nectar for bees, and the source of the distinctive heather honey.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Groundcover

Height

14 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eurasia

Toxicity

Non-toxic; flowers used to flavour tea and ale

Planting

How to Grow

Plant only in acid, sharply drained, poor soil.
Give it full sun for the best flower and foliage colour.
Do not feed or add lime or mushroom compost.
Water with rainwater where tap water is hard.
Trim lightly each spring, above the old wood.
Replace plants that have gone woody at the base.

Pro Tip

Trim it every spring without fail — heather does not resprout from bare wood, so one missed year cannot be corrected later.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in acid, poor, gritty soil 🌱
Trim lightly every spring ✂️
Use rainwater where tap water is hard 💧
Give it full sun for colour ☀️

Don't

Feed it or add lime ❌
Cut back into bare old wood ❌
Plant it in heavy or alkaline ground ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Trim

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Acid heath and gravel plantingLate-season colour on a sunny bankContainers of ericaceous compost

Companion Plants

Winter Heath Dwarf Conifers Blueberry Bearberry Bell Heather

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Heather questions

What zones can Heather grow in?

Heather is hardy in USDA Zones 4–7. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Heather deer resistant?

Yes — Heather is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Heather bloom?

Heather typically blooms in late summer to fall through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Heather need full sun?

Heather does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.