Find a plant:

Genus Calluna (Heather, Ling)

Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch' Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais

kal-LOO-nah

Common Name: Heather, Ling

The sole species in this genus, C. vulgaris, is the much-loved Scotch heather. There are more than 500 cultivars. They are useful as groundcovers and rock garden plants, where their dense clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers with long sepals in shades or red, purple, pink, or white can be appreciated. The tiny leaves are scale-like and give the plant a gray color.
Noteworthy characteristics: Evergreen. Foliage becomes purplish in winter. Dense clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers. Very attractive to bees.
Care: Heather likes an open site in full sun and soil that is well-drained, rich, and acidic. Mulch and cover with pine boughs where snow cover is unreliable. Prune in spring.
Propagation: Root 2-inch-long, semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer or layer in spring.
Problems: During hot summers, spider mites may be problematic.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Calluna

Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch'
(Scotch heather, Ling) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Spring Torch' gets its name from the vibrant color of its new growth in spring. The mid-green leaves are tipped in shades of cream, orange, and red. Later in the summer, mauve-pink flower spikes cover the plant and last into the fall. As cold weather sets in, leaves acquire bronze or purple tones, adding further interest. This small, mounding evergreen shrub makes a good groundcover or rock garden plant. Bees love it. Different cultivars are beautiful woven together in the garden to form a colorful tapestry.