Blue mountainheath
Phyllodoce caerulea · Ericaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around blue mountainheath and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fine and needle-like
- Blooming
- Spring (April-May), pink-purple to blue flowers
- Mature size
- 30-50 cm tall × 40-60 cm wide
- Growth
- Slow
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-20°C and below)
- Origin
- Arctic and mountainous regions of Eurasia and North America
- Soil type
- Acidic, humus-rich, well-drained
Care
Light exposure
Place your blue heather in a bright location, ideally in partial shade or north-east facing. It tolerates full sun in cold and humid regions, but dislikes scorching south-facing exposure and dry conditions in warm continental climates.
Soil and substrate
This plant requires acidic soil (pH 4.5-6), rich in organic matter and excellently drained. Improve your substrate with heather peat or blonde peat if your soil is chalky. Adding perlite prevents root suffocation.
Watering
Keep the soil fresh and moist during growth, particularly in dry seasons. Water with non-chalky water (rainwater, filtered) to avoid changing the pH. Reduce slightly in winter, but never let the substrate dry out completely.
Pruning and maintenance
Little pruning required. Remove faded flowers after blooming to promote compactness and reproductive vigor. Gently clean dead or damaged foliage in spring, without stressing the plant.
Fertilizing
Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants (Ericaceae), diluted to a quarter strength, once or twice monthly during growth (May-August). Stop any feeding from October to April.
Pests and diseases
Generally a robust plant rarely affected by issues. Watch for powdery mildew in case of excessive humidity and poor air circulation. Waterlogged soil promotes root rot. Ensure good drainage and air movement.
Did you know?
Blue heather owes its scientific name to the genus Phyllodoce, borrowed from Greek mythology: Phyllodoce was one of the Nereids. This little alpine shrub is emblematic of alpine and arctic heathlands, where it blooms gracefully in acidic peatlands at very high altitudes, transforming into a delicate cloud of pink-purple as spring arrives.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea
- Cross-leaved heathErica tetralix
- Bog rosemaryAndromeda polifolia
- BearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Strawberry treeArbutus unedo
- Tree HeathErica arborea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.