Heather is an adaptable perennial that can thrive in various conditions and look amazing the entire time. The Red Haze Heather or Calluna vulgaris is a showy specimen with lovely flowers and striking foliage. Tiny purple flowers bloom along tall, upright stems. Enjoy the blooms from August through September. The foliage turns a deep reddish-bronze hue late in the season, inspiring the name ‘red haze’.
Heather adds height to a mixed planting or can create a border or low flowering hedge. Butterflies favor this perennial, making it a natural fit in a butterfly garden. The Red Haze Heather grows in zones 5 through 9. Trim the tall stems to feature the flowers in a vase or dry them so they can be enjoyed even longer.
Red Haze Heather Care
Plant Red Haze Heather in acidic, well-drained soil. This plant does not need rich soil and can happily grow in low-quality soil. Select an area with partial sun and give young plants one inch of water per week. Established plants only need water when grown in warm climates or during a dry period. Plants grown in rich soil do not need fertilizer, but plants in poor-quality or alkaline soil will grow best with an annual dose of ericaceous fertilizer each spring.
Trim Red Haze Heather in the spring to encourage bushy growth. Old, neglected plants can become leggy, so prune overgrowth to create a densely growing shrub. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants in cold climates to protect against chilly temperatures.
Red Haze Heather Spacing
Red Haze Heather reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches wide. Space each plant 12 to 15 inches apart and thin the plants if they become too dense so air can circulate around the foliage. Grow heather in a container measuring at least 10 inches wide, and size up the pot by an inch or two each year.
Red Haze Heather Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Plant Type: Bushes
Light Exposure: Partial Sun (5 – 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
Mature Height: 1 – 2 Feet
Mature Spread: 2 – 3 Feet
Spacing: 1 – 2 Feet
Habit: Mounded
Flower Color(s): Purple
Flower Description: Petite, Lavender flowers
Bloom Period: Summer
Foliage Type: Variegated
Foliage Color(s): Red, Yellow
Foliage Description: Gold Foliage surrounding flowers, turns reddish-bronze in winter
