Calluna vulgaris collection - Summer Heather Collection

This is a collection of 3 Calluna vulgaris, better known as summer heathers. These undershrubs are characterised by needle-like foliage that persists in winter, a long nectar-rich flowering in late summer, and a low and wide habit. These heathers are small, bushy, colourful and compact plants which make a beautiful ground cover in rockeries, at the edge of flower beds, or in a pretty pot on the terrace. Like all Callunas, these varieties are hardy and grow in the sun in well-drained acidic soil (without limestone).

The collection consists of:

1 Summer Heather 'Winter Chocolate': a variety measuring 40 cm in height and 50 cm in width. Flowering from August to October with purple buds, becoming violet to pale lavender at full bloom. Orange foliage tinged with salmon red in spring, turning chartreuse green to orange-yellow in summer, then bronze in autumn, ending the year with a beautiful chocolate brown.

1 Summer Heather 'Dark Beauty': forming a ball 20 cm high and 35 cm wide, this cultivar blooms from mid-August to mid-October with semi-double flowers that are intermediate between dark pink and red. The light green of its foliage forms a beautiful combination with the flowering. It takes on bronze highlights in cold weather.

1 Summer Heather 'Silver Knight': this undershrub reaches 35 cm high and 45 cm wide. Its flowering begins from late July and extends until September-October. Small pink mauve flowers. Slightly silver foliage. It takes on a purple hue in cold weather.

This collection of Callunas should be planted in a light, sandy soil, without limestone, well-drained and truly acidic, with a pH between 4 and 6 (for example, composed of 1/3 ericaceous soil, 1/3 non-limestone garden soil, and 1/3 sand). Choose a sunny exposure in northern regions, and semi-shaded in warmer climates. Plan for 5 plants per square metre or space the plants 40 cm apart. The Summer Heathers collection is perfect in slightly wild areas of the garden, bringing colour throughout the year. It can be used alone or planted in groups with other varieties and cultivars of heathers (they are countless). For a long flowering period, imitate nature by mixing common heather (Calluna vulgaris) and bell heather (Erica cinerea). Use this collection of summer heathers to brighten up a rockery or border along a path. It also works well in pots and planters, creating beautiful seasonal compositions. Or in ericaceous flower beds, to adorn the base of rhododendrons and azaleas. You can create delightful, slightly wild scenes by planting 'Winter Chocolate' alongside grasses, ferns, and dwarf conifers at the base of white birches.