Calluna vulgaris Garden Girls Theresa - Heather

Calluna vulgaris 'Theresa' is a summer heather from the prolific Garden Girls series. It has evergreen foliage that is bright golden yellow all year round. In autumn, it is covered in soft pink flower buds along the leafy stems. These buds never open or get pollinated, allowing the flowering to spread over almost 4 months. Plant this heather in a rock garden, as a border plant, or in a pretty pot on the patio, in acidic and well-drained soil or substrate. Its bright presence adds vibrancy, contrasting with the usually warm colours of late autumn.

Calluna vulgaris Garden Girls 'Theresa' belongs to the Ericaceae family. Its ancestor, the common heather, the only species in the Calluna genus, is the dominant vegetation in its natural habitat of barren heathlands in the cold regions of the UK and Northern Europe. 'Theresa' is an evergreen shrub that forms small, bushy plants with a wide and upright habit, reaching about 40 cm (16in) in height and width after 3 years of cultivation. Decorative all year round thanks to its beautiful evergreen foliage, this cultivar blooms from August to November. Its flower buds are arranged in upright and flexible spikes. The green-yellow to golden colour of its foliage is very bright.

The Garden Girls 'Theresa' summer heather is a light and refined plant that can be planted in any acidic, moist to dry soil, in full sun or partial shade. It brings elegance to wild areas of the garden as well as weekend or low-maintenance gardens. Stunning when planted en masse with other species and varieties, it also pairs nicely with dwarf asters and short ornamental grasses, in a rock garden, on a slope, or in an informal border. In an ericaceous bed, it can be planted at the base of witch hazels, Pieris, or Skimmia japonica. On the patio or balcony, it fills pots and containers for autumnal floral displays with small perennials and bulbs.

Calluna vulgaris can withstand moderate grazing. It is an important food source for sheep and deer when the vegetation is covered in snow. It is capable of regenerating after a fire. In the past, this plant was considered magical and used in white magic rituals; it was believed to have protective powers. Calluna is also an ingredient in gruit, an aromatic composition used in beer brewing before the use of hops in the Middle Ages. Its flower tops have been used in herbal medicine for a very long time, as they are reputed to 'dissolve gallstones'.