Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling or Common Heather) is the most common & widespread of our native heathers. It is a low perennial shrub normally growing from 20 to 50cm tall but occasionally reaching as high as 1m. in Ling the leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers are a delicate pink (or occasionally white) & made up of four sepals & four smaller petals that appear form August until late October. This is in contrast to the other common heather, Erica cinereal (Bell Heather) which has leaves in whorls & bright purple, bell shaped flowers that bloom in earlier in the year. Habitat Information Ling is a long-lived native perennial that grows on a wide range of acidic soils. Although most dominant in open, sunny moors & heaths it can be found amongst boggy vegetation & within acidic pine & oak woodlands. It is reasonably tolerant of grazing by sheep, cattle & deer & will regenerate following occasional light burning. Sowing the seeds VERY SMALL SEEDS Tolerates most soils, prefers partial shade, Sowing time throughout the year, with best results sowing March/April & August to September. Prepare the soil by lightly scarifying to create a shallow broken surface. Sprinkle evenly the seeds Then rake the seed lightly into the surface. Will grow in grass & wooded areas Other info on sowing Heather will readily colonise bare ground both from wind dispersed seed or from the persistent seed bank it can form. Germination is reputed to be difficult with smoke sometimes being used to break dormancy. in tests this is not necessary & although germination may be a little slow & erratic 1,000 seed has the potential to produce many hundreds of plants, this is well worth the effort. Thanks for looking. Calluna Vulgaris - Ling | Common Hether, Approx, 1000 Seeds Fairy Flower Seeds
