Calluna vulgaris

Heather, Scotch heather, Ling

Message of the Flower

Blossoming of Nature

The Mother’s Comment

Abundant and strong, nothing can stop its growth.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

In her green wildernesses and lurking depths, In her thickets of joy where danger clasps delight, He glimpsed the hidden wings of her songster hopes, A glimmer of blue and gold and scarlet fire.

In her covert lanes, bordering her chance field-paths And by her singing rivulets and calm lakes He found the glow of her golden fruits of bliss And the beauty of her flowers of dream and muse.

Sri Aurobindo, Savitri - I: The Kingdoms and Godheads of the Greater Life

Nature proves her collaboration with a smile of flowers.

The Mother

O Nature, Material Mother, thou hast said that thou wilt collaborate and there can be no limit to the splendour of this collaboration.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: New Year Messages

Colour

Rose pink

Family

Ericaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Alportii' (purple flowers), 'Beoley Gold' (gold foliage), 'Cuprea' (copper foliage), 'Firefly' (bronze foliage), 'Silver Knight' (silvery foliage).

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small, usually around 2-3 mm in diameter

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Four

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Some varieties are fragrant

Leaf Texture

Small, scale-like leaves

Leaf Arrangement

Whorled

Leaf Color

Green, with some cultivars in gold, bronze, or silver

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Low-growing shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late summer to fall

Climate

Hardy in cool, temperate climates

Water Requirements

Moderate, prefers well-drained soils

Soil Type

Acidic, sandy, well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Hardy to USDA zones 4-6

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils, pest issues include heather beetle

Pollinators

Bees, butterflies

Habitat

Moorlands, heathlands, open woodlands

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides shelter and food for wildlife, supports biodiversity

Ornamental

Widely used in gardens and landscapes for ground cover and winter color

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Peat from heather lands used in whisky production

Endangered Status

Not endangered, but habitats can be threatened by overgrazing, development, and fire

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