Heather
Don't confuse this genus with Erica (also commonly called "heather") when it comes to soil pH — this genus has no meaningful lime tolerance at all, unlike the popular winter-flowering Erica carnea and x darleyensis, which will grow in mildly alkaline soil. If garden soil isn't genuinely acidic, grow this one in an ericaceous container instead.
Care
Needs open, sunny conditions for the densest growth and strongest flower colour; becomes sparse and leggy in shade.
Reasonably drought-tolerant once established; the main watering risk is poor drainage rather than dryness.
Free-draining, genuinely acidic soil — unlike some Erica, this genus has no lime tolerance and will struggle badly in neutral to alkaline conditions.
Trim over lightly with shears in early spring, removing the previous year's spent flower spikes and shaping the plant, but avoid cutting back hard into old bare wood, which this genus won't reliably resprout from.
An ericaceous feed in spring only if growth is poor. Ling is a plant of acid moorland and the annual trim after flowering does far more for its shape and vigour than any fertiliser.
Semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or mound-layering an older plant with ericaceous compost. The coloured-foliage forms must be propagated vegetatively — seedlings revert to ordinary green.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchTrim over lightly with shears to remove the previous season's spent flowers and keep growth dense. how ›
- JuneFeed lightly with an ericaceous feed if growth looks sparse; established plants in suitable soil rarely need regular feeding. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchTrim over lightly with shears to remove the previous season's spent flowers and keep growth dense. how ›
- JuneFeed lightly with an ericaceous feed if growth looks sparse; established plants in suitable soil rarely need regular feeding. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryTrim over lightly with shears to remove the previous season's spent flowers and keep growth dense. how ›
- JuneFeed lightly with an ericaceous feed if growth looks sparse; established plants in suitable soil rarely need regular feeding. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryTrim over lightly with shears to remove the previous season's spent flowers and keep growth dense. how ›
- JuneFeed lightly with an ericaceous feed if growth looks sparse; established plants in suitable soil rarely need regular feeding. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Pale, yellowish leaves, especially on new growth.
What to do. Almost always alkaline or neutral soil — this genus, unlike some Erica, has no lime tolerance at all; grow in a container with ericaceous compost if the garden soil isn't genuinely acidic.
How to spot it. Gaps and bare stems in the centre or base of the plant.
What to do. Almost always from missed annual trimming, or from cutting back too hard into old wood — trim lightly every year rather than leaving it and then cutting hard, as this genus resprouts poorly from bare old wood.
How to spot it. Plant collapsing or dying back despite otherwise suitable soil pH.
What to do. This genus needs sharp drainage — improve drainage before replanting, or grow in a raised bed or container if the native soil is heavy.
Questions
Heather: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Does well in a container with ericaceous (acidic) compost, which is also the easiest way to grow this genus in a garden with alkaline soil.
Heather: when do you prune it?
Trim over lightly with shears in early spring, removing the previous year's spent flower spikes and shaping the plant, but avoid cutting back hard into old bare wood, which this genus won't reliably resprout from. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in March.
Heather: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in August–October.
When do you feed it?
An ericaceous feed in spring only if growth is poor. Ling is a plant of acid moorland and the annual trim after flowering does far more for its shape and vigour than any fertiliser. Feeding months, UK: April.