Heather

Calluna vulgaris

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Ericaceae
Genus:: Calluna
Species:: Calluna vulgaris

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub
Height:: 1-2 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov
Bloom Colors:: pink, purple, white
Ground Cover:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Beautiful Yellow Underwing (Anarta myrtilli), T-moth (Emmelina monodactyla)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Forest bumble bee (Bombus sylvicola), Forest bumble bee (Bombus sylvicola), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia), Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia), Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon), Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon), Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon), Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon), Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea), Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea), Boisduval's Blue (Plebejus icarioides), Boisduval's Blue (Plebejus icarioides), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), ⚠️Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe), ⚠️Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe), Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius), Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Yellows (Colias Fabricius), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis), Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis), ⚠️Edith's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha), Edith's Copper (Lycaena editha), Edith's Copper (Lycaena editha), Glaucon Blue (Euphilotes glaucon), Glaucon Blue (Euphilotes glaucon), Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis), Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis), Greater Fritillary (Speyeria Scudder), Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus), Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus), Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis), Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia), Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides), Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini), Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Mariposa Copper (Lycaena mariposa), Mariposa Copper (Lycaena mariposa), Mexican Cloudywing (Thorybes mexicana), Mexican Cloudywing (Thorybes mexicana), Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti), Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti), Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia), Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla), Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Pale Swallowtail (Pterourus eurymedon), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Rockslide Checkerspot (Chlosyne whitneyi), Rockslide Checkerspot (Chlosyne whitneyi), Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus), Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus), Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti), Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti), Sara Orangetip (stella) (Anthocharis sara), Sara Orangetip (stella) (Anthocharis sara), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Sierra Blue (Plebejus podarce), Sierra Blue (Plebejus podarce), 🛑Sierra Sulphur (Colias behrii), 🛑Sierra Sulphur (Colias behrii), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Small Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis oetus), Small Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis oetus), Snowberry Checkerspot (Euphydryas colon), Sonoran Skipper (Polites sonora), Sonoran Skipper (Polites sonora), Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum), Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum), Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis), Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus rutulus), Western White (Pontia occidentalis), Western White (Pontia occidentalis), 🛑Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene), 🛑Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: Thrives in heathland and moorland environments