Written by Tolly Beck
Tolly Beck is a horticulturist at Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Westchester County. She was formerly a horticulture educator for New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland, NY.
What’s in Bloom
Updated Weekly
TREES
Franklin tree Franklinia alatamaha
SHRUBS
Butterfly bush Buddleia davidii
Carolina rose Rosa carolinia
Heather Calluna vulgaris
Hydrangea spp.and cvs.
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
Shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa
Spirea spp. and cvs.
PERENNIALS
Aster Symphyotrichum spp. and cvs.
Bloody crane’s bill Geranium sanguineum
Goldenrod Solidago spp.
Hardy argeratum Eupatorium coelestinum
Hosta spp. and cvs.
Japanese aster Kalimeris ‘Daisy Mae’
Japanese aster Kalimeris ‘Blue Star’
Japanese anemone Anemone japonica
Joe Pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
Orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
Turtlehead Chelone lyonii
Winecups Callirhoe involucrata
Yellow corydalis Corydalis lutea
Scotch Heather
Late Summer Color
Visitors to Lasdon’s goldfish pond (located near the Veteran’s Museum) currently see swimming goldfish and a colorful late summer display. The Lasdon Heather Garden is just in front of the goldfish pond and is currently in bloom. Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris) produces spikes of small, pink, light violet or white bell-shaped flowers from August to October.
Scotch heather is a small evergreen shrub growing in a mound from 1’- 2’ tall with an equal spread. It prefers a full sun location, but will tolerate part shade in the afternoon. Plant Scotch heather in an area that has well-drained, acidic soil that is high in organic matter. There is little maintenance required, except for a light trimming in spring that helps to encourage growth and keeps Scotch heather bushy and compact.
The smaller size of this evergreen shrub makes it especially useful as a groundcover or a rock garden plant. In addition to providing flowers in late summer the foliage of Scotch heather takes on bronze or purple tones in winter. Some cultivars of Scotch heather also provide bright winter color. Scotch heather is cold hardy and can be grown in zones 4-6, although a winter mulch is advised during the first winter after planting.
Pollinators like bees and butterflies frequently visit the heather garden, while deer and rabbits usually avoid it. Traditionally Scotch heather was harvested for use in making brooms. Today Scotch heather is used to produce heather honey and is also found as an ingredient in many cosmetics. But mostly, Scotch heather provides beautiful color for the late summer season.