Calluna vulgaris 'Heather'

[Ex. Co. Derbyshire, England]

Ericaceae: dense, evergreen shrub to 50cm, also known as Ling. This is a characteristic plant of acid soils on heaths and moors, but it also occurs in mature birch and conifer woodland. The flowers are bell-shaped, and usually pink but sometimes white; forming spikes from Aug-Sep. seeds are very small, almost dust like. Widespread and locally common throughout the region. In many heathland and moorland areas it is the dominant plant.

USES:

A tea is made from the flowering stems, and it was once used to make a kind of mead, also brewed from the flowers and the young shoots have been used instead of hops to flavour beer.

Heather has had a long history of medicinal use in folk medicine. In particular it is a good urinary antiseptic and diuretic, disinfecting the urinary tract and mildly increasing urine production. The flowering shoots are antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, mildly sedative and vasoconstrictor. The plant is often macerated and made into a liniment for treating rheumatism and arthritis, whilst a hot poultice is a traditional remedy for chilblains.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 20°C, but a short Cold stratification for 4 weeks or so may help. Requires a light acid soil and a sunny position, but tolerates light shade. Only succeeds if the pH is below 6.5.

HARVESTED: 2020

APPROX. 1000+ SEEDS