How to Grow and Care for Scotch heather

Scotch heather, also known as Ling, Common heather, Ling heather, Scotch heath

Scotch heather is known for its resilience and ease of care, suitable for gardeners of various experience levels. A special care point for scotch heather involves ensuring well-drained acidic soil to mimic its natural heath habitat, which is crucial for its growth. Additionally, scotch heather thrives in full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade. Pruning after flowering helps maintain its compact shape and encourages new growth.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Scotch heather

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	4.5-5.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	4-6

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Varieties of Scotch heather

Scotch heather 'Silver Rose'

Scotch heather 'Silver Rose' is a low-growing, or dwarf, evergreen heather, or ling, which produces small pale purple flowers against pretty silver-grey foliage. The name comes from this coloring. It forms mats, so it is ideal for covering large areas with little effort. It also attracts bees to the garden.

Scotch heather 'Allegro'

Scotch heather 'Allegro's ruby-red blossoms differentiate it from its parent plant's pink/pale purple ones. It's a heather cultivar that was originally derived from Calluna vulgaris, the common heather. Its many small flowers are appreciated amongst gardeners for their pleasant appearance, and can become so numerous that they appear to turn the entire plant red.

Scotch heather 'Beoley Gold'

Scotch heather 'Beoley Gold' is a flowering dwarf evergreen shrub from the Ericaceae family. It has white blooms and spiny gold leaves that add a pop of color to any landscape. It’s well known for keeping its color year-round, and many people use this hardy plant in sandy or acidic soils that may be difficult for other plants.

Scotch heather 'Wickwar Flame'

Named after a town in Gloucestershire, scotch heather 'Wickwar Flame' was developed from the Common heather ‘Olympic Gold’ cultivar. Its name also refers to the unique foliage presented by this plant. Starting a golden-yellow color, the leaves deepen to a coppery red by the end of the season. This plant also provides a show of mauve flowers in the late summer.

Scotch heather 'Mair's Variety'

Scotch heather 'Mair's Variety' is a lovely cultivar of Common heather with dark foliage and erect spikes of white flowers that bloom in the summer and autumn. The white flowers are unique to scotch heather 'Mair's Variety', as the parent plant usually has mauve flowers in the wild. This unique color, as well as the long flower spikes, make this a favorite heather of many gardeners.

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More General Info About Scotch heather

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Scotch heather is characterized by its small, needle-like leaves borne in dense clusters, giving it a textured appearance. It flaunts purple to pink bell-shaped flowers that emerge in late summer and remain through fall, adding vibrant colors to groundcover displays. Its growth habit is low and spreading, typically up to 2 feet (60 cm) in width and 1 foot (30 cm) in height. The evergreen foliage of scotch heather persists year-round, turning bronze to brown in colder climates. Suitable for poor soil conditions, scotch heather requires annual pruning in early spring to maintain its compact form and prevent woody, bare stems.