Scotch Heather

Scotch heather is the low, fine-textured shrub that turns the well-drained border or rock garden into a tapestry of color from midsummer through fall. The flowers are small, urn-shaped, rosy to purplish-pink, and so densely packed on the upright stems that they create a solid sheet of color when the plant is in full bloom from July through September. Native to the moors and heathlands of Europe and Asia Minor, it evolved on acid soils in open, windswept conditions, which translates perfectly to the well-drained, acidic soils of many Western Washington residential sites. Three cultivars are in the regional trade: 'Firefly' and 'Wickwar Flame' for foliage that shifts through orange and copper tones, and 'Robert Chapman' for gold foliage that deepens in winter.

Heather's requirements are simple but non-negotiable: acid soil, full sun, and sharp drainage. It will not tolerate clay, shade, or wet feet in winter. In the right site, a raised bed, a sandy slope, a rock garden with amended soil, it is essentially self-maintaining once established. One disease is tracked: Phytophthora root rot, which is the same drainage-dependent threat that affects most ericaceous plants. Prune lightly after flowering to keep the plant compact and prevent it from getting leggy and woody at the base. Do not cut into old wood, it will not regenerate from bare stems. For the effort of getting the site right at planting time, heather gives you years of reliable color with no chemical inputs and minimal maintenance.