Calluna vulgaris, commonly known as Scotch heather or ling, is a popular evergreen shrub grown for its attractive flowers and foliage. If you’re looking to add some Scotch heather to your garden, you may be wondering where to find calluna vulgaris plants for sale. 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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Wilson Bros Gardens – You can buy ‘Firefly’ Scotch heather in 2 gallon and 1 gallon pots from this Georgia nursery. They ship plants nationwide.
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Digging Dog Nursery – This California nursery specializes in uncommon perennials, shrubs, and trees. They have an extensive selection of heather and heath plants, including over 25 calluna vulgaris varieties.
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
Another option is to check for calluna vulgaris at local retail nurseries. While selection may be more limited, you can often inspect plants in person before purchasing. 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!
Daboecia: Irish Heath Daboecia cantabrica
Daboecia is named for the Irish Saint Dabeoc
Daboecia azorica and Daboecia cantabrica exist in nature and Daboecia x scotica is a man-made hybrid of the two naturally occurring forms.
Flowers: Daboecia flowers are the largest of all the Heathers to ½” long and can be white, pink, red, magenta or purple. Flowers are held in racemes above the foliage & bloom from June to October.
Foliage: Evergreen leaves are dark green and glossy. Most Heather leaves look coniferous and needle-like, but Daboecia leaves are more leafy.
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?
On dry heaths or moors, heather generally has a life span of about 30 to 40 years and communities are usually even-aged.