Plant Height: 14 inches
Flower Height: 24 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Other Names: Scotch Heather, Ling Heather
Description:
An eye catching variety with vibrant pink buds that contrast dark green foliage for a long period; a colorful tall groundcover; very particular about growing conditions, needs acidic organic soil, will die in anything else
Ornamental Features
Merlyn Heather has masses of beautiful spikes of pink bell-shaped flowers with creamy white overtones at the ends of the branches from mid summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive hot pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Merlyn Heather is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Merlyn Heather is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
Planting & Growing
Merlyn Heather will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have sandy, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
