Fair heather friend - growing heather

Flower & Garden Magazine, Oct-Nov, 1994 by Jim Thompson

HEATHER HAS LONG BEEN Associated with the wild moors and highland areas of Great Britain where few other plants could survive. It once was relied upon to provide material for brooms, mattress stuffing and even heather ale, although the recipe for this famous brew has been lost over time.

In Europe, heathers are recognized as valued garden plants. However, due to their intolerance of hot summers, heathers are not widely planted in the United States. Gardeners living in areas suitable for growing heather, such as New England, the Pacific Northwest and other coastal areas, should make more use of these most beautiful, very garden-worthy plants.

If you live in one of these areas, and are looking for a plant that requires a minimum of attention to keep it looking neat and attractive, heather is definitely worth a second look. Heathers will cover the ground with a carpet of growth that is virtually impenetrable to weeds and provide a wide range of color from both flowers and foliage.

Heather is the generally accepted name for plants of the genera Calluna, Erica, Daboecia, Bruckenthalia and Andromeda. Most heathers used in America are Callunas, Daboecias and the hardy Ericas (as distinguished from the tender Erica species of South Africa). Heathers are evergreen sub-shrubs that, in mild climates, provide a year-round display of color from flowers and foliage. They require relatively little maintenance, fertilizer and water. They are easily propagated and have a wide variety of garden uses.

The selection and use of heathers depends upon personal tastes, but the hundreds of varieties available and the many and varied uses in the garden provide a range of options sufficient to satisfy the most discriminating gardener. Flower colors include pink, lavender, white, magenta, amethyst, purple and red. These flower colors may be augmented by, or contrasted with, the beautiful and varied foliage colors of copper, pink, gold, silvery gray and almost infinite shades of green.

The time of flowering varies with the species. Varieties of Erica carnea begin blooming in early winter and continue into early spring. They are followed in early and midsummer by Daboecia and Erica cinerea, E. tetralix, E. agans and E. ciliaris. The many varieties of Calluna ulgaris carry the show of flowers into late summer and autumn.

Although some of the more spectacular heather gardens consist of large areas planted en masse, this factor should not discourage gardeners with less interest in heathers, or who have limited time or space available for gardening. The wide differences in sizes and forms of heathers permit exquisite use of these plants in small gardens. In fact, many prefer to see heathers planted as individual specimens or arranged in small groups. One of the challenges of heather gardening is to make the best use of almost unlimited plant options to match individual tastes and garden limitations.

Heathers are tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. However, the ideal is a light, slightly acid soil and a cool, moist climate. They will not grow well in heavy clay or alkaline soil without substantial soil amendments. For best results they should have at least one-half day of sun.

The soil around newly planted heathers should be kept moist until the roots are well-established. Mature plants are reasonably drought-tolerant and require less water than most other garden plants. Proper watering is a matter of good judgment based upon existing soil and climatic conditions. Many newly planted heathers die because of lack of adequate water; yet mature plants can be harmed by overwatering.

Once individual heather plants have grown together to cover the soil, very little weeding is required. Weeding requirements of newly planted areas can be greatly reduced by mulching. Heathers, particularly the low and prostrate forms, make excellent groundcovers as a substitute for the much more hungry and thirsty grass lawns.

A light application of an acidtype fertilizer may be used to promote growth in newly planted heathers. Mature plants need no fertilizing.

Pruning most heathers requires only the clipping off of spent flowers, which may be done either in late autumn or early spring.

Heathers may be propagated in all the usual ways: by seed, division, layering and cuttings. Cuttings are preferred for their ease. The best time to take cuttings is in July and August when the wood is "half ripe."

Heathers are relatively pest- and disease-free. Gophers cause little or no damage. Rabbits and deer may cause some damage but severe damage is experienced only when more desirable grazing is not available. The fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, a common root disease spread by water in wet and warm climates, may become a serious threat to heathers. It can be controlled by the application of chemical fungicides.

When I began my heather garden, I had a limited basis for selecting the best varieties from among the many available. Thus the plants used for much of my garden were chosen only after a time-consuming, but enjoyable, process of testing 250 varieties. My lists of recommended heathers will help other gardeners from having to go through the same process of trial and error.