Plant Guide

Other Names:  Scotch Heather, Ling Heather

Description:

A lovely variety with spikes of pink bell-shaped double flowers from summer through fall; makes a great, colorful groundcover; very particular about growing conditions, and must have acidic organic soil to thrive

Ornamental Features

County Wicklow Heather features tiny spikes of shell pink bell-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from mid summer to mid fall. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

County Wicklow Heather is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

County Wicklow Heather is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

County Wicklow Heather will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 15 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have sandy, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.