About

Calluna vulgaris 'Bernadette' is a low, spreading evergreen shrub that typically reaches heights of 20 cm and a width of 60 cm. Its yellow-green leaves transition to a bronze-red hue during the winter months. In mid to late summer, this variety produces upright spikes adorned with pale purple blooms.

About the genus

Calluna consists of compact, evergreen shrubs that feature stems covered in small, overlapping leaves. At their tips, these plants bear spike-like clusters of diminutive, four-petaled flowers, each adorned with colored calyces.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil in an open, sunny position
Pruning
Pruning group 10, in spring
Propagation
Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and other fungal diseases