Skip to content
Florist Directory Search

Flower profile

Heather

Quick facts

These evergreen shrubs consist of tight stems covered with tiny leaves. They have 6- to 10-inch flower spikes and come in purple, lavender, pink and white.

heather flower and plant

Heather at a glance

Size
They have 6- to 10-inch flower spikes and come in purple, lavender, pink and white
Also called
calluna, Scotch heather

About heather

These evergreen shrubs consist of tight stems covered with tiny leaves. They have 6- to 10-inch flower spikes and come in purple, lavender, pink and white. Heather is a flowering plant or cut flower.

How to make heather last

  1. Keep them cool until they are in water. Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them into a flower food solution.
  2. Fill a clean vase with water and flower food. Use a clean, deep vase and add the flower food from your florist, following the mixing directions on the packet.
  3. Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit water uptake by the flower.
  4. Re-cut the stems. Remove one to two inches with a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems, then place the flowers straight into the vase.
  5. Keep them in a cool spot. 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans.

Care steps from SAF’s flower care tips. More flower care tips →

Heather as a potted plant

Also called: heather, calluna, Scotch heather. These evergreen shrubs consist of tight stems covered with tiny leaves that are 1/8-inch long. They grow from 4 inches to 3 feet tall. They have 6- to 10-inch flower spikes and come in purple, lavender, pink and white.

Keep product stored at 34 to 38 F/1 to 3 C. Do not prune tips because doing so accelerates water loss. Water plants frequently, but do not allow them to stand in water or to dry out. They are susceptible to fungus disease during moist, humid summers, so use a fungicide at the first sign of infection. They are fairly drought-resistant. They prefer full sun.

Questions about heather

How do you care for heather?

Keep heather cool until they are in water, use a clean vase with flower food, remove any leaves below the waterline, re-cut the stems by one to two inches and keep the vase at 65 to 72 degrees, away from direct sunlight and vents.

Where can I buy heather?

From a local SAF member florist. Enter the recipient's ZIP code on this page to find florists near them.

More flowers

All flowers A to Z →