Heathers, the landing and care of which many are interested in, are legendary plants. They grow in many countries of Europe and several myths are associated with them. By nature, this plant is hardy, unpretentious, and is also one of the best honey plants. Those who are fanatical about the landscape design of their site are simply obliged to pay attention to heathers. Planting and caring for them are simple, the appearance is very effective. And the flowering time is long. In addition, even after flowering, the heather bush remains very decorative. Because after drying, his brushes do not lose their bright shade and shape.
Heathers. Planting and flower care
This plant is not very tall - it never exceeds a meter. Heather foliage can be of various shades: in addition to green, it can be bronze, yellowish and even red. The flowers are small, goblet. They are collected in medium-sized inflorescences resembling a brush. In nature, they most often have a lilac soft hue.
Decorative heathers (planting and caring for them are simple) can bloom with white, raspberry, cyclamine flowers. The first half of the year - until about August - plants decorate the garden mainly with foliage. But after blooming and until late autumn, they delight with a palette of bright brushes. The gardener must take care of a number of conditions that will allow him to grow a bright and lush heather in his area. Moderate sun or slight partial shade, acidic soil reaction, high humidity - some of them. But heather does not need to be fed. For the winter it would be good to warm it with mulch from sawdust, humus, needles or crushed bark. In addition to shelter, it also acidifies the soil a little, and also retains moisture in it. Heather propagates by air layering in spring before pruning. The branch is bent to the ground, fixed and covered with earth. Layers will quickly develop the root system. It is only necessary to carefully monitor the level of moisture. Heather is a plant that is very resistant to almost all pests except phytophthora. Formative cutting of the bush is carried out once a year, after flowering. This stimulates the formation of more magnificent brushes for the next year. In this case, it is necessary to avoid giving the shrub an overly symmetrical appearance. Its charm is in a peculiar "shaggy".
Heather in the culture and life of different countries
The wastelands overgrown with this plant cover a significant part of Europe. There is also it in Siberia, in the northern part of Africa, in North America (immigrants from Great Britain brought it there). In Scotland heather was widely used for the production of mattresses, brooms. And the dye that is extracted from this plant was used to decorate national clothes. Heather - honey plant. It is often planted near apiaries. Heather ale is a traditional drink made in Scotland since the second century AD. Dabecia and andromeda are two more plants from the heather family that are similar to each other. They are more winter-hardy. By the way, heather is used in homeopathy - it has the property of lowering blood pressure and a slight diuretic effect.