A popular evergreen shrub grown for its pretty flowers and leaves is Calluna vulgaris, which is also known as Scotch heather or ling. You might be wondering where to buy calluna vulgaris plants if you want to add Scotch heather to your garden. Fortunately, there are several options for purchasing these hardy plants.
Online Nurseries
One of the easiest ways to find Scotch heather is through online nurseries and mail order catalogs Many specialty nurseries carry a selection of calluna vulgaris cultivars ready to ship bare root or in pots A few reputable online sellers to check include
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Burnt Ridge Nursery – This Pacific Northwest nursery offers over 10 cultivars of calluna vulgaris in both gallon pots and plug trays. Some of their top sellers include ‘Firefly’ ‘Kinlochruel’ and ‘Blazeaway.’
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There are 2 gallon and 1 gallon pots of “Firefly” Scotch heather for sale at Wilson Bros Gardens in Georgia. They ship plants nationwide.
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Digging Dog Nursery is a California nursery that specializes in rare trees, shrubs, and perennials. They have a huge selection of heath and hedging plants, with more than 25 different kinds of calluna vulgaris.
When ordering Scotch heather online, be sure to check shipping restrictions for your state and purchase early in the growing season. Many nurseries sell out quickly.
Local Nurseries
You could also look for calluna vulgaris at retail nurseries in your area. There may not be as many plants to choose from, but you can usually look at them before buying them. Look for nurseries that specialize in unusual or native plants. Avoid big box stores, as they rarely carry Scotch heather.
If your local nurseries don’t have it in stock, ask if they can special order calluna vulgaris plants for you. Provide them with specific cultivar names and sizes to search for.
Plant Sales
Don’t overlook plant sales held by botanic gardens, horticultural societies, garden clubs, and conservation groups as a source of hard-to-find calluna vulgaris. These organizations often sell unusual plants rarely available at regular retail nurseries.
For best selection, arrive early before rare items sell out. Bring a wagon or cart if purchasing large plants or multiples.
Seed Nurseries
If you don’t mind growing Scotch heather from seed, check mail order seed catalogs. Here are some reputable sources to search:
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Evergreen Seeds – Specializes in seeds of trees, shrubs, and perennials. Offers calluna vulgaris seed.
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Outsidepride – Sells seeds for various heather species and cultivars, including ‘Firefly,’ ‘Spring Torch,’ and ‘Dark Beauty’ Scotch heather.
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Sheffield’s Seed Company – Long-established seed company with a wide inventory including heather seeds.
With proper care, growing calluna vulgaris from seed is a cost-effective way to produce many plants. Just be aware it may take 2-3 years before seedlings are mature enough to bloom.
Divisions
Finally, if you or a gardening friend already grow Scotch heather, dividing mature plants is an easy way to get more for free. The best time to divide is in early spring before new growth resumes. Replant divisions promptly in prepared beds.
With so many options, you should have no trouble finding calluna vulgaris plants for sale. Just shop early to get first pick of cultivars. Let us know if you have a favorite place to buy Scotch heather!
Erica is from the Greek work ereiko meaning ‘to break’. Possibly because the stems break easily and possibly because of the medieval belief that it could be used medicinally to dissolve gall stones.
Flowers: Small bell-shape flowers can be white, pink, mauve, cerise, magenta or purple. Bloom-time varies per species.
Winter/Spring flowers: Erica carnea, Erica darleyensis.
Summer/Fall flowers: Erica cinerea, Erica griffithsii, Erica stuartii, Erica tetralix & Erica vegans
Foliage: Evergreen leaves look like tiny needles and can be green, gold or blue.
Erica cinerea ‘C.D. Eason’
Magenta bell flowers in summer – June-September, soft green needle-like leaves, grows 10″ x 20″
Everything You Need to Know About Heather & Calluna
FAQ
Is Calluna a perennial or annual?
Outsidepride Heather Plant Seeds (Calluna Vulgaris) flourish in USDA zones 3-9, growing well in full sun to partial shade. These perennial ground cover flower seeds produce vibrant pink plants live, blooming from mid-summer through fall, and growing 12-20 inches tall.
Where is the best place to plant calluna?
Calluna grow well on free-draining acidic soil, in a sunny position.
Does Calluna vulgaris like sun or shade?
Calluna dislike alkaline soils, wet soils and shady areas, but tolerate light shade from high-canopied trees. They do not like being pruned too hard into woody stems, so trim off the flowering stems after they bloom each year.
What is the lifespan of a Calluna vulgaris?
Sheep that live on dry heaths or moors usually only live for 30 to 40 years, and groups of them are usually the same age.