Heather Cassiope 'Edinburgh'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Cassiope 'Edinburgh' is a visually striking plant notable for its small, urn-shaped flowers that have a whimsical bell-like appearance. These blooms typically display a delicate pink color, which can add a soft and subtle hue to any garden space. The plant itself has a compact habit with fine, needle-like foliage that is often described as resembling moss. The leaves are a deep green color, providing a rich backdrop for the dainty flowers. The plant has a tendency to form tidy mounds, making it a suitable choice for rockeries, alpine gardens, or as part of a mixed border where its evergreen foliage can provide year-round interest. The overall impression of Cassiope 'Edinburgh' is of a gentle and enchanting plant that brings an element of fairy-tale delicacy to the environment in which it grows.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Ericaceae.
- Synonyms
  Edinburgh Andromeda, Edinburgh Heather.
- Common names
  Cassiope 'Edinburgh'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Cassiope, commonly known as heather, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, as with any plant, individual allergies or sensitivities may exist. Ingestion of any part of the plant is unlikely to cause poisoning. If someone were to consume a large quantity of the plant, they may experience mild stomach upset, but as heather is not commonly known for its toxicity, serious consequences are not typically associated with its ingestion.
- To pets
  For pets, such as dogs and cats, the Cassiope, commonly referred to as heather, is also considered non-toxic. It is not known to cause any significant symptoms of poisoning in pets. Ingestion of the plant may lead to some gastrointestinal discomfort. Therefore, while it might cause mild stomach upset in some pets if they consume large amounts, heather is not commonly associated with severe toxic reactions or long-term health consequences in pets.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: The Cassiope 'Edinburgh', also known as Scottish Heath, has dainty, bell-shaped flowers and evergreen foliage offering year-round visual interest.
- Attracts Pollinators: Its blooms attract bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
- Low Maintenance: Scottish Heath is known for being hardy and requiring minimal care once established, making it a great plant for low-maintenance landscapes.
- Cold Tolerant: This plant is very cold hardy, capable of withstanding frost and low winter temperatures.
- Suitable for Rock Gardens: Due to its compact growth habit, it is an excellent option for adding texture and color to rock gardens.
- Ground Cover: With its spreading habit, Cassiope 'Edinburgh' can serve as an effective ground cover, suppressing weeds and reducing soil erosion.
- Versatile Landscaping Use: It can be planted in containers, borders, and as understory plantings, showing versatility in various landscape designs.
- Long Blooming Period: The flowering season for Scottish Heath is relatively long, spanning from spring into summer, providing sustained beauty in the garden.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it can tolerate periods of dryness and is suitable for gardens with less frequent watering.
- Resistant to Deer: This plant is generally deer-resistant, which is beneficial for gardens in areas with a large deer population.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- The woody stems of Cassiope can be used in small-scale model making or as natural decorations in miniature landscapes due to their fine texture and intricate branching patterns.
- Dried Cassiope flowers and stems can be used in potpourri for their delicate shapes and textures, adding variety to the mix.
- Cassiope branches can serve as natural supports for climbing plants in fairy gardens or other small planting arrangements.
- The plant can be cultivated for its ornamental value in winter gardens as Cassiope 'Edinburgh' is known to maintain its attractive appearance even in cold weather.
- Photographers and artists may use Cassiope 'Edinburgh' as a subject or backdrop for its interesting form and the way it captures light and shadow.
- Cassiope can be used in educational settings, such as schools or botanical gardens, to teach about alpine plant adaptations and ecosystems.
- The compact and evergreen nature of Cassiope makes it suitable for use in living walls or vertical gardens, either outdoors or in large indoor spaces.
- It can be used in corsages or boutonnieres for a rustic and natural look due to its small, delicate flowers and foliage.
- Cassiope 'Edinburgh' can be used in ornamental wreaths and garlands, especially during the winter holiday season when its resilience to cold is beneficial.
- The plant can be a part of sensory gardens, offering a distinct texture for tactile exploration as well as visual interest due to its needle-like leaves.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Heather is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Pride: Cassiope 'Edinburgh', commonly known as Heather, is often associated with admiration and the solitary beauty of the moors, symbolizing a form of pride in one's solitude and natural beauty.
- Protection: Heather has been thought to possess protective properties, representing safety and a hedge against danger in various cultures.
- Good Luck: In some traditions, Heather is carried as an amulet or given as a gift to bring good luck and ward off misfortune.
- Independence: The rugged growth of Heather, thriving on windswept hills, stands for self-reliance and the ability to prosper despite challenging conditions.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Heather needs regular watering, especially when the plant is young and establishing. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant deeply once a week, providing about 1 gallon of water for each plant. During hot, dry spells, you may need to water twice a week. Reduce watering in the winter months when the plant is dormant, ensuring the soil does not dry out completely.
Light
Heather prefers full sun to partial shade. The best spot for this plant is an area where it can receive at least four to six hours of sunlight each day. However, in regions with very intense sun, some afternoon shade will help protect the plant from scorching.
Temperature
Heather thrives in cooler climates and can handle temperatures down to about 20°F but not much lower. The ideal temperature range for heather is between 40°F and 70°F. It can survive a short period of higher temperatures but will not do well in prolonged heat above 80°F.
Pruning
Heather is pruned to maintain shape and encourage new growth. It should be pruned lightly after flowering, typically in late spring. The best time to prune is just as the flowers begin to fade, cutting back about one-third of the growth to prevent the plant from becoming leggy.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Scotch Heather prefers acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. An ideal soil mix includes peat moss, sand, and loamy elements to ensure proper drainage and moisture retention. Fertilize sparingly to maintain nutrient levels.
Repotting
Scotch Heather should be repotted every 2-3 years. It's essential to use fresh acidic soil mix and avoid disturbing the roots too much during the process.
Humidity & Misting
Scotch Heather thrives in moderate to high humidity. It does well in the naturally humid environment outdoors, and when grown indoors, it appreciates the occasional misting.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Scotch Heather near a bright window; keep soil moist.
- Outdoor
  Plant in partial shade, mulch well, protect from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  4-7 USDA.
Life cycle
Cassiope 'Edinburgh', commonly known as Heather, begins its life cycle with seed germination, typically occurring in spring under appropriate temperature and moisture conditions. Once the seedlings emerge, they undergo a period of vegetative growth, producing characteristic needle-like leaves and woody stems. Heather plants mature and start flowering, usually from late summer to fall, displaying bell-shaped flowers that attract various pollinators. After pollination, seeds develop inside the fruit, which is a capsule, and are dispersed by wind or wildlife, completing the reproductive cycle. In winter, the plant may enter a dormant phase, particularly in colder climates, but it is evergreen and can provide winter interest even when not actively growing. With proper care and favorable conditions, Heather can live and thrive for many years, contributing to its surrounding ecosystem throughout its lifecycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagation for Cassiope 'Edinburgh', commonly known as Heather, is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This is usually done in the late summer months. To propagate, one should select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 4 to 6 inch (10 to 15 cm) length. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end can be dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root growth. The cutting is then inserted into a pot filled with a mixture of peat and perlite, ensuring that the leaf nodes where leaves were removed are buried in the soil. The pot should be placed in a warm location with indirect sunlight and kept moist but not waterlogged. Roots typically develop within a few weeks, after which the new Heather plants can gradually acclimatize to outdoor conditions.