Calluna vulgaris Garden Girls Amethyst - Heather

Calluna vulgaris 'Amethyst' summer heather is a cultivar from the Garden Girls series, known for its unique flowering. It consists of closed flower buds that are resistant to bad weather and ensure a long-lasting flowering period. Since the flowers are not pollinated, they have an extended lifespan. 'Amethyst' is characterised by its dark green foliage, which bears almost fuchsia-coloured flower buds. This deep purple hue contrasts with the dark foliage. It brings vibrant colour throughout autumn, whether in a rock garden, a border, or a beautiful pot on a patio. Plant this heather in well-drained acidic soil or substrate.

Calluna vulgaris Garden Girls® 'Amethyst' belongs to the Ericaceae family. Its ancestor, the common heather, is the only species of the genus Calluna. In its natural habitat, it is the dominant vegetation of barren heathlands in the cold regions of the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. 'Amethyst' is an evergreen shrub that forms a small, bushy plant with a wide and upright habit, reaching approximately 40cm (16in) in height and 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) in width after 3 years of cultivation. Decorative all year round thanks to its beautiful evergreen foliage, this cultivar blooms from early September to December. Its flower buds are arranged in upright and flexible spikes. The dark green colour of its foliage enhances its intense flowering. Its nectar contains a high sugar content, making this honey-bearing plant invaluable in beekeeping. Heather honey is characterised by its gelatinous texture and dark colour.

The Garden Girls 'Amethyst' summer heather is a light and refined plant that thrives in acidic, moist to dry soil, in full sun or partial shade. It brings elegance to wild areas of the garden as well as to weekend or low-maintenance gardens. Stunning when planted in groups with other species and varieties, it pairs beautifully with dwarf asters and small grasses in a rock garden, on a bank, or in an informal border. In an ericaceous bed, it can be planted at the base of witch hazels, pieris, or Skimmia japonica. Plant it in pots and containers on a patio or balcony to create autumnal floral compositions with small perennials and bulbs.

Calluna vulgaris can withstand moderate grazing. It represents an important source of food for sheep and deer when snow covers the vegetation. It is capable of regenerating after a fire. In the past, this plant was considered magical and used in white magic rituals; it was attributed protective powers, as in the Breton heaths, where it is said to ward off ghostly spirits. Calluna is also an ingredient of gruit, an aromatic composition used in brewing beer before the use of hops in the Middle Ages. Its flowering tops have been used in herbal medicine for a very long time, as they are reputed to "dissolve stones in the bladder".