Heather

(Calluna vulgaris)

 

Color drawing: C. A. M. Lindman (1901-1905), Bilder ur Nordens Flora.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Plant spreading along the ground with erect stems. Flowers small, pink, arranged in long clusters on the stems. Flowers with 5 small basal bracts, and 5 pink to white sepals almost concealing the petals. Leaves very small, evergreen, needlelike, arranged in 4 rows along the stem. Plant 6 to 16 inches in height.

Distribution: Michigan in the west to Newfoundland in the east, southward to New Jersey and West Virginia.

Habitat: Heather is local and is usually found in areas rich in peat or sand.

Flowering period: July to November.

Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

Similar Species:

The pink flowers in an elongate cluster and the needlelike leaves in four rows on the stem are distinctive features of Heather.

Similar Species

No Similar Species