Is common heather hardy? - Tips about wintering

Is common heather hardy? - Tips about wintering

The quality of the location determines the winter hardiness - that's what matters

Common heather is a typical plant of the north with extensive, sun-drenched landscapes, characterized by sandy, lean, acidic soil. In its home range, Calluna vulgaris is completely hardy and can live up to 40 years. The closer the location qualities of your garden to the following framework conditions, the more pronounced the winter hardiness develops:

  • Full sun to shady location
  • Nutrient-poor, humus soil
  • Moderately dry to fresh, without the risk of waterlogging
  • Acid pH from 4 to 5

also read

  • Common heather in profile - dwarf shrub with fascinating attributes
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  • Is the butterfly lilac hardy? - Tips for wintering

Common heather is therefore the ideal candidate for designing a heather garden. If, on the other hand, you integrate a Calluna vulgaris into the perennial bed with nutrient-rich, calcareous soil, it will only give a brief guest appearance in your garden.

Winter protection is mandatory in boxes and buckets - that's how it works

Thanks to its filigree growth form with a height of 15 to 30 cm, common heather is a welcome guest in the tub and flower box (€ 13.19 on Amazon *) on the balcony. In plant pots, of course, a limited winter hardiness must be observed because the root balls are vulnerable to frost and icy wind. The following winter protection measures are recommended:

  • Wrap pots and boxes with bubble wrap, jute ribbons or coconut mats
  • Place vessels on wood or styrofoam plates to protect against the cold of the ground
  • Cover the substrate with autumn leaves, bark mulch or wood chips

Professional winter protection includes careful maintenance. Since evergreen heather evaporates moisture even during the cold season, water it regularly. A quick finger test shows whether the substrate has actually dried on. Pour the lime-free water sparingly so that no waterlogging can form.

Tips

Are you wondering how the colorful heather got its name? In the profile you can read that our ancestors tied the dried shoots together in bunches. This is how stable brooms and brushes for sweeping the floors inside and outside were created.