Heather Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch'
ABOUT
The plant known as 'Spring Torch' is a vibrant and colorful variety of heather that celebrates the spring season with its eye-catching appearance. It boasts an ever-changing palette of foliage colors throughout the year. In spring, new growth appears in shades of bright red to pink, taking on a fiery hue that contrasts dramatically with the older, evergreen leaves. As the seasons progress, the leaves transform into a mottled array of greens and creams, adding an element of visual interest even when the plant is not in bloom. 'Spring Torch's' signature feature is its small, bell-shaped flowers that emerge in late summer and carry on into fall. These blossoms are usually a soft shade of mauve or purple, standing proud above the colorful foliage. The flowers grow in dense racemes, creating a striking display that attracts various pollinators to the garden. The combination of the unique foliage and delicate flowers of 'Spring Torch' makes it a standout addition to any landscape, adored for its ability to provide year-round color and texture. With its dense and mounding habit, it serves well as ground cover or as part of rock gardens, borders, and containers, and is celebrated for its endurance and low maintenance needs in a variety of garden settings.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Ericaceae.
Synonyms
Scotch Heather, Scots Heather, Ling Heather.
Common names
Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch'
ToxicityTo humans
Heather is generally regarded as non-toxic to humans. There is no significant evidence suggesting that the common heather plant poses a toxic threat when touched or ingested. Consequently, it's not associated with poisoning symptoms in humans.
To pets
Heather is not considered toxic to pets. This common garden plant does not have a history of causing poisoning in animals such as dogs and cats, and ingesting it typically does not result in any harmful consequences.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Mixed
Flower color
Pink
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
4-8
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Visual interest: 'Spring Torch' adds vibrant colors to gardens throughout the seasons with its foliage that changes hues from pink, cream, to a red in winter.
- Low maintenance: It is a hardy plant that requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for beginner gardeners or those with busy schedules.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, reducing the need for constant watering.
- Wildlife attraction: This plant can attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, promoting pollination.
- Erosion control: With its dense growth habit, it can help prevent soil erosion on slopes or in areas prone to erosion.
- Year-round interest: It provides four-season interest in the garden with its evergreen foliage and seasonal color changes.
- Versatility: It can be used in various garden settings, including rock gardens, borders, and containers.
- Soil adaptation: It is adaptable to a range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained, acidic soils.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Dye Production: Heather flowers can be used to create natural dyes, producing shades ranging from yellow to green, depending on the mordant used.
- Brewing Beer: Heather has a history of being used as an ingredient in brewing beer, adding a unique aroma and subtle flavor.
- Garden Art: The plant's woody structure can be trained or pruned into interesting shapes for garden art or topiary.
- Flavoring Honey: Beekeepers sometimes position their hives near heather fields, as the flowers contribute a distinct flavor to the honey.
- Bedding Material: In older times, dried heather was used as a fragrant and insulating bedding material in mattresses.
- Lucky Charms: Heather is often considered a good luck charm in Scotland, and sprigs of it may be used in bridal bouquets or boutonnieres.
- Wildlife Habitat: Heather plants provide shelter and habitat for various wildlife species, particularly ground-nesting birds.
- Fire Fuel: Historically, dried heather was bundled and used as a slow-burning fuel for fires and ovens.
- Thatch Roofing: In traditional building methods, heather was sometimes used as a thatching material for roofs.
- Water Filtering: Though not a primary use, heather has been known to grow around wetlands and can contribute to the natural filtration of water.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Heather is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Heather is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Protection: Calluna vulgaris, commonly known as heather, is often associated with protective properties. In ancient times, it was believed to guard against evil and bring good fortune.
- Admiration: Heather is also symbolic of admiration and beauty. Its persistent and resilient nature, along with its delicate flowers, is thought to evoke a sense of wonder and respect.
- Solitude: Heather can survive in harsh, barren environments, making it a symbol for self-reliance and solitude. It signifies the ability to thrive in conditions where others may not.
- Good Luck: In some cultures, heather is carried as a good luck charm. It is particularly associated with good luck in Scottish tradition where it grows abundantly in the moors.
- Dreams: With its enchanting appearance, heather is often thought to represent the conjuring of dreams, hinting at the unlocking of one's subconscious desires.
- New Beginnings: The 'Spring Torch' variety, with its bright new growth, can symbolize new beginnings and the fresh start of spring, inspiring a sense of renewal and rebirth.
WaterThe common name for Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch' is Heather. Heather prefers consistently moist soil, so it should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. In general, this might mean watering once or twice a week, depending on the climate and weather conditions, but you must be careful not to overwater. It's best to add water slowly at the base of the plant, allowing it to soak in without flooding, using about a gallon of water per plant for each watering session. During hot, dry spells, you might need to water more frequently, and less often during rainy or cooler periods.
LightHeather thrives in a spot with full sun to partial shade. For robust growth and flowering, aim to provide at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. It can also tolerate high light conditions, but too much shade can lead to sparse foliage and poor blooming. The ideal location would be one where the plant gets morning sun and some afternoon shade, especially in regions with very hot summers.
TemperatureHeather is a hardy plant, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal temperature range for growing Heather lies between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to protect the plant from extreme winter chill by providing some coverage if temperatures tend to dip below the mentioned minimum.
PruningHeather benefits from pruning to promote bushy growth and prevent the center from becoming woody and sparse. Pruning should be done annually, in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. Lightly trim off the top third of the plant, making sure not to cut into the old wood, as this can inhibit new growth. Pruning is also the ideal time to shape the plant and remove any dead or diseased branches.
CleaningNot needed
SoilHeather, the common name for Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch', thrives in well-draining, moist soil with a high organic content. A mixture of peat, sand, and loamy soil is ideal, with an acidic pH between 4.5 and 5.5.
RepottingHeather should be repotted every three to five years, mainly to refresh the soil and remove any build-up of minerals.
Humidity & MistingHeather prefers moderate to high humidity levels, but it can tolerate less humid conditions as long as the soil moisture is maintained.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure acidic soil, bright indirect light, and keep the soil moist.
Outdoor
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil with full to partial sun.
Hardiness zone
4-7 USDA
Life cycleHeather 'Spring Torch' begins its life cycle with seed germination in a well-draining, acidic soil in spring or summer. It then grows into a young plant, establishing a small root system and producing its characteristic colourful foliage and stems. As the plant matures, it develops woody stems and reaches its flowering stage, producing small, bell-shaped flowers typically from late summer to fall. After pollination by insects, the flowers produce seed capsules that release seeds, ready to start a new generation. During winter, the plant goes through a dormancy period where growth slows down or ceases until the conditions become favourable again in spring. Over many years, Heather 'Spring Torch' can become woody and may need pruning to rejuvenate and encourage new growth.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: Heather 'Spring Torch' is most commonly propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. The best time to take these cuttings is in late summer to early fall, when the plant's growth begins to slow and the stems are not too tender nor too woody. To propagate, select healthy, non-flowering shoots and cut a segment of stem of about 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) long. The lower leaves are then stripped away, and the base of the cutting is dipped into a rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cuttings are then placed in a well-draining potting mix, ensuring that at least one leaf node is below the surface. The cuttings should be kept in high humidity and indirect light until roots have formed, which can take several weeks. Once rooted, the new heather plants can be gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions and eventually planted out in the garden.
