h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

King of True Heather?

Where's True Heather?

Is it near Boznia-Herzegovinia?

And how did Calluna get to be King in the first place?

He's just a bloke who drinks down the pub round by my house.

What type of climate does it prefer? Would it grow on the Canadian prairies?

Now I'm wondering what has been perpetrated on the gullible American public as "Heather"! It's a pretty plant, but...... is it REAL?!?

Seriously, interesting information; I will go to my gardening center to check it out. The only color commonly known in So Cal is a deep mauve. Grey foliage, wow.

SC

Barney,

Calluna vulgaris is very hardy for a European. In terms of North American climate zones, it will happily tolerate Zones 5-7 ie down to average annual minimum temperatures of -20 F. (The UK is Zones 7-9, and Calluna is native to the Zone 7 areas - 0 F - such as the Scottish Highlands). The main enemies for you are your cold dry winds of winter which dessicate the plant, and possibly too hot a summer. Solutions are to ensure the soil contains masses of organic material to retain moisture during dry summers, and provide shelter from the wind during winter with taller shrubs or possibly a covering of straw.

SpaceCadette,

Browse this link, my friend. Lots of beautiful photos to drool over, and a list of good suppliers, worldwide.


[URL removed by moderator]

Wilfrid

SpaceCadette,

run a well-known search-engine that nearly rhymes with Bugle-dot-com. Go to advanced search and enter 'Wickwar Flame'. On the first page of results you will find a link to a respectable national society of UK heather enthusiasts. They are not trying to sell anything - just trying to help

Wilfrid

Thanks for the info. I think I have almost an optimum spot to try some - very warm in summer, and I water every other day, and protected and sunny in winter. I'm going to hit all the garden centers in Spring till I find some! With a Grannie who grew up in Aberdeen, and her stories of the heather, I've always wanted it in my garden.

Barney