Pollinator plant

Common Heather

Calluna vulgaris

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Common names

65 names · 44 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (43)
Dutch
  • Bezemheide
  • Struikhei[5][7]
  • Struikheide
French
Basque
Belarusian
  • Верас звычайны[7]
Cantonese
  • 杜鵑花科[7]
Catalan
  • Bruguerola[7]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vřes obecný[7]
Danish
Esperanto
Estonian
Faroese
  • vanligur heiðalyngur[7]
Finnish
Galician
Georgian
  • მანანასებრნი[7]
German
Hungarian
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • közönséges csarab[7]
Icelandic
Irish
  • Fraoch mór[7]
Italian
Japanese
  • カルーナ[7]
Kazakh
  • Көкбұта тұқымдасы[7]
Latvian
  • Sila virsis[7]
Lithuanian
  • Šilinis viržis[7]
Low Saxon
  • Heedfemilie[7]
Malayalam
  • എറിക്കേസീ[7]
Northern Sami
  • Daŋasšattut[7]
Norwegian
  • Lyngfamilien[7]
  • røsslyng[7]
Polish
  • Wrzos zwyczajny[7]
Portuguese
Quechua
  • Thumana yura rikch'aq ayllu[7]
Russian
  • Вереск[7]
  • Вереск обыкновенный[7]
Slovak
  • vres obyčajný[7]
Slovenian
  • jesenska vresa[7]
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
  • วงศ์ กุหลาบป่า[7]
  • วงศ์กุหลาบป่า[7]
Turkish
  • Süpürge Çalısı[7]
Ukrainian
  • Верес звичайний[7]
Vietnamese
  • Họ Thạch nam[7]
Welsh
  • Grug ysgub[7]
Wuu Chinese
  • 杜鹃花科[7]
Sources & name notes (7)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Calluna vulgaris — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Heather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Common Heather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Scotch Heather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Scottish Heather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Calluna vulgaris.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • heather — Page 1, column 2, row top 667 pt; common-name cell after Calluna vulgaris.; Calluna vulgaris.
  • ling — Page 1, column 2, row top 667 pt; common-name cell after Calluna vulgaris.; Calluna vulgaris.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • heather — Page 3, column 1, row top 562 pt; common-name cell after Calluna vulgaris.; Calluna vulgaris.
  • ling — Page 3, column 1, row top 562 pt; common-name cell after Calluna vulgaris.; Calluna vulgaris.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • heather — Page 3, column 1, row top 337 pt; common-name cell after Calluna vulgaris.; Calluna vulgaris.
[5] Calluna vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Heather — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Besenheide — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Heidekraut — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • autumn heather — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • common heather — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Ling — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Ling Heather — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Scottish Heather — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • summer heather — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • biércol — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brecina — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Callune — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brughiera — results[0].names[61]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brugo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Struikhei — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Torga-ordinária — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
[6] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Calluna vulgaris ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Heather (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153256; taxon PWBL.
  • Besenheide — VernacularName.tsv, line 153255; taxon PWBL.
  • Heidekraut (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153257; taxon PWBL.
[7] Calluna vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Heather — results[10].names[5]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Besenheide — results[10].names[1]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Heidekraut — results[10].names[11]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • autumn heather — results[10].names[17]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • common heather — results[10].names[2]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Ling — results[10].names[4]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Ling Heather — results[10].names[6]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Scottish Heather — results[10].names[53]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • summer heather — results[10].names[16]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • biércol — results[10].names[21]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brecina — results[10].names[59]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Callune — results[10].names[9]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brughiera — results[10].names[61]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Brugo — results[10].names[14]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Struikhei — results[10].names[18]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Torga-ordinária — results[10].names[7]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Вереск — results[10].names[8]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • kanerva — results[10].names[10]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Bruguerola — results[10].names[12]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Hedelyng — results[10].names[13]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Ljung — results[10].names[15]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • vřes obecný — results[10].names[19]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • røsslyng — results[10].names[20]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Вереск обыкновенный — results[10].names[22]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Šilinis viržis — results[10].names[23]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • kangaskanerva — results[10].names[24]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Wrzos zwyczajny — results[10].names[25]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • kanarbik — results[10].names[26]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • カルーナ — results[10].names[27]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • vres obyčajný — results[10].names[28]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • 帚石南 — results[10].names[29]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Fraoch mór — results[10].names[30]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Queiroga — results[10].names[31]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Uz — results[10].names[32]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Erikacoj — results[10].names[33]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • მანანასებრნი — results[10].names[34]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Erikazeo — results[10].names[35]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Көкбұта тұқымдасы — results[10].names[36]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Lyngætt — results[10].names[37]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • എറിക്കേസീ — results[10].names[38]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Heedfemilie — results[10].names[39]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Thumana yura rikch'aq ayllu — results[10].names[40]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Lyngfamilien — results[10].names[41]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • วงศ์กุหลาบป่า — results[10].names[42]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Süpürge Çalısı — results[10].names[43]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Họ Thạch nam — results[10].names[44]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • 杜鹃花科 — results[10].names[45]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • 杜鵑花科 — results[10].names[46]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Daŋasšattut — results[10].names[47]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Верес звичайний — results[10].names[48]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • jesenska vresa — results[10].names[49]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • vanligur heiðalyngur — results[10].names[50]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Верас звычайны — results[10].names[51]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • วงศ์ กุหลาบป่า — results[10].names[52]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • csarab — results[10].names[54]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • hanga — results[10].names[55]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • erika — results[10].names[56]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Sila virsis — results[10].names[57]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • 帚石南 — results[10].names[58]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • közönséges csarab — results[10].names[60]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Beitilyng — results[10].names[62]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
  • Grug ysgub — results[10].names[63]; taxon id 119450; Calluna vulgaris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Calluna vulgaris is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Ericaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.1–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Ascending; Dense; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Eurasia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Calluna vulgaris in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable. Bud-blooming cultivars are excluded.

Sources [3] [4] [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a shrub. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Calluna vulgaris — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5086349; ID PWBL; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5086349; ID PWBL; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Calluna vulgaris — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Calluna vulgaris (top 562 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Calluna vulgaris (top 337 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 1, column 2, entry Calluna vulgaris (top 667 pt)

    Source checked on .