Low evergreen shrub of acid moorland across northern Europe, with masses of small mauve, pink, or white bell flowers in late summer. Aerial parts produce yellow to greenish-yellow textile dye.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 4–7 | −34.4 °C to −12.2 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 4–7 | −29 °C to −7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–4 | −15 °C to 5 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Yellow-to-green dye extracted from flowering shoots — the traditional source of the gold-green base colour of Harris Tweed and similar Scottish moorland-dyed cloths
- A signature plant of British and Northern European acid heathland — the dominant cover of vast moorland areas in Scotland and northern England
- Demands acidic, well-drained, poor soils — chlorotic and miserable on alkaline soils
- Important nectar source for bees — heather honey is a distinct premium product
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Heather against your zones