About

'Calluna vulgaris 'Easter-bonfire' is a low-growing, evergreen shrub that develops a dense, mound-like shape. Its upright branches are adorned with slender, linear leaves that feature creamy white and reddish tips in the early season, transitioning through summer. In late summer to early autumn, from August to September, it produces elongated clusters of small purple-pink flowers.

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
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Alpine Rockery, Shrubs
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Coastal, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in well-drained acidic soil in full sun
Pruning
Pruning group 10. Trim off old flowering stems after flowering to keep compact.
Propagation
Sow seed in spring. Propagate by division, layering shoots in spring/summer or planting softwood cuttings in a cold frame in summer.
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and other fungal diseases