For reliable, long-lasting color, you can’t go wrong with petunias.And for bold red hues that last and last
12.06.2023 - 01:01 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow Heather Plants in Your Garden Andromeda, Calluna, Daboecia, Erica spp.For a tough plant that thwarts hungry deer, marauding rabbits, swarms of aphids, and even most diseases, heather has a delicate beauty all its own.
While it comes from regions that sport some pretty inhospitable environments, heathers have learned to adapt to all kinds of areas.
With flowers that range from white to neon pink, it can add color to the dreariest winter garden, or offer up nearly maintenance-free interest during the hottest summer months.
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I won’t lie, I first fell for heathers because they’re so low-maintenance, but once I discovered the range of colors in both the foliage and the flowers, I was hooked. Maybe you feel the same way?
In this guide, we’ll help you pick the best specimen for your garden, whether you live in the desert or chilly New England, and show you how to make it look its best.
Here’s what you can expect:
Get ready to sit around and just enjoy your heather! No hardcore maintenance required.
What Is Heather?Heathers all come from the Ericaceae family and belong to either the Calluna, Erica, or Daboecia genus. Andromeda species (bog rosemary) are also included in this grouping.
The so-called “true” heather, or Scotch heather, is C. vulgaris. It’s the only plant in the genus. It’s also called summer heather or ling.
Erica species are called winter heathers, but not all of them bloom in the winter. Daboecia species all bloom in summer.
They are all woody, evergreen perennials that stay fairly short at under 24 inches, and all have tiny scale-like leaves and small but profuse white, purple, red, pink, or mauve
For reliable, long-lasting color, you can’t go wrong with petunias.And for bold red hues that last and last
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