CALLUNA vulgaris. Scotch heather. Europe and Asia Minor. Small shrubs of the heath family, forming dense colonies in the wild. They are valued in gardens for both foliage and flowers. Though variable in habit, all are densely branched and have closely pressed, scale-like leaves. Their tiny bell shaped flowers, borne along the stems in summer, vary from white to reddish purple. Sun or part shade, well drained soil (preferably incorporating some peat or leaf mold), and moderate watering. They are intolerant of both lime and salts, particularly sodium. Hardy to 0oF or less.
‘Aureafolia’. This selection grows erect to about 2', with younger leaves painted bright gold. The flowers are white and nearly inconspicuous.
‘Corbett's Red’. A mounding plant with dark green foliage, growing about 1' high and nearly covered in summer by rose purple blossoms.
‘H. E. Beale’. A little more upright, growing 1-2' tall. It has long tresses of double pink blossoms from mid-summer to fall.
‘Martha Herman’. An exceptionally compact clone with lime-green leaves and white flowers.
‘Minima Prostrata’. An exceptionally compact selection, slow in growth. Initially, it lies quite flat on the ground, eventually mounding slightly as new branches form successive layers. The foliage is dark green in summer, bronze-tinted in winter, and the flowers are light reddish purple. I hope to have it back soon.
‘Robert Chapman’. This is a striking foliage shrub. It is nearly prostrate in habit, making low mounds. The leaves are golden yellow with some orange tints during warmer weather, becoming nearly scarlet in winter. Flowers are purplish pink.
‘Smith's Variety’. Upright but quite congested in growth. It has rich green foliage and reddish purple blossoms.
‘Spring Torch’. A neat 1’ shrub with bright green leaves, showing vivid red and orange tones in new growth. The flowers are bright pink in color.
‘Tib’. This is one of the old favorites, which we have somehow only recently gotten around to growing. It forms a tight dome up to 1' high, with bright green foliage and vivid purplish red flowers.