Calluna vulgaris H.E. Beale - Heather

Calluna vulgaris 'H.E. Beale', also known as Common Heather or Calluna vulgaris 'Pink Beale', offers a rare and astonishing double flowering in tiny pale pink pompoms. Its dense spikes cover its foliage from late summer, transforming the plant into a delightful small ball, fresh and spring-like, contrasting with the colours of autumn. Its dark green cypress-like foliage remains decorative all year round, and provides structure to somewhat dull flower beds in winter. Extremely hardy, it is a plant for harsh climates and acidic soils. With its compact growth habit, it is perfectly designed to withstand wind.

Calluna vulgaris is the only species in the genus Calluna belonging to the Ericaceae family. In its natural habitat, it is the dominant vegetation of acidic heathlands in the cold regions of the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. 'H.E. Beale' is one of its many cultivars. This evergreen shrub forms small, bushy, slightly tousled plants, reaching a height of 0.4 m (1.3 ft) and a width of 0.5 m (1.6 ft). Its growth is quite slow. Decorative all year round, it stands out for its late flowering, which takes place from September and lasts until November-December. Its small silvery pink pompoms are unique, and densely clustered in upright, compact but flexible spikes. The very dark colouration of its scaly foliage, in dark bluish-green, forms a very happy contrast with the flowering. It is a honey plant, used in beekeeping due to the high sugar content of its nectar. Heather honey is characterised by its gelatinous texture and dark colour.

Distinguished by its long double flowering as well as its dark foliage, Calluna vulgaris 'H.E. Beale' thrives in acidic soils in low-maintenance gardens and wild areas, bringing a touch of elegance. It can be planted in groups, with other varieties and cultivars (of which there are countless). For a long winter flowering, one can imitate nature by mixing common heather and ashy-heather, changing the colour of the landscapes they form during their flowering period. It brightens up rock gardens and borders along pathways. It adapts very well to container gardening and will create beautiful seasonal compositions. Planted in ericaceous beds, it will cover the base of rhododendrons or witch hazels. You can create charming, somewhat wild scenes by planting 'H.E. Beale' alongside grasses, ferns, and dwarf conifers at the foot of birch trees.

Calluna vulgaris tolerates moderate grazing. It represents an important food source for sheep and deer when vegetation is covered by 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, as in the Breton heathlands where it is said to ward off ghostly spirits. Heather is also an ingredient in gruit, an aromatic composition used in brewing beer before the use of hops in the Middle Ages. Its flowering tops have been used in herbal medicine for a long time, as they are reputed to “dissolve bladder stones”.