Calluna vulgaris or Common Heather is the dominant plant covering for colder, moorland areas of the northern hemisphere and although they can do well in domestic cultivation, they tend to be best in highland and cooler climates.
This low growing, evergreen shrub with stiff, erect branches and small green foliage around 2-3mm long that turns to brown or purple in winter. They make a bun shape and are covered in terminal racemes of small, pink, purple or white, bell shaped flowers in late summer.
Gardeners are best selecting one of the many hundreds of cultivars which will produce denser flower displays and handle slightly warmer conditions better.
If grown on larger properties it will re-generate well after grazing of fire and is of course an exceptional source of pollen for honey bees.