The lavender heather is a real eye-catcher in the garden and not only pretty to look at on its own. It also cuts a fine figure as a hedge plant.
The lavender heather (also called shadow bells), Latin Pieris, belongs to the heather family and occurs worldwide in seven species. In our latitudes, for example, the Japanese heather lavender (Pieris japonica) and the rich-flowered heather lavender are common. The evergreen shrubs grow up to four meters high and are not only popular on their own, but also as hedge plants. The shadowy bell should not be confused with the rosemary heather. In planting and cultivation, however, the two plants hardly differ. However, heather rosemary only grows about 30 centimeters high.
When is the best time to plant lavender heather?
Heather lavender should be planted in late summer if possible. By August or September, the shrub will have finished flowering and will be able to grow well and focus its energy on the formation of new buds. This should happen at the new location in the next two months after planting.
Find the right location
Heather lavender is generally a fairly easy-care plant. However, a bright location is a prerequisite for a lush abundance of flowers. Sun or semi-shade are also possible. If the lavender heather is too dark, it will miss the flowers. However, if you place less value on the flowers and prefer to enjoy the dense growth of foliage, you can also cultivate the plant in the shade, because a shady location favors the formation of the foliage.
Heather lavender generally prefers a sheltered location. This is just as useful on hot days with blazing sunshine as it is in the cold season when late frosts threaten to attack the flowers. A location near house walls is therefore an advantage. Here the plant is also offered protection from strong winds. Incidentally, the lavender heather feels particularly at home surrounded by rhododendrons, ferns, hostas and lilies of the valley.
The ideal location in keywords:
- light
- sunny to semi-shady
- protected
Selecting the ideal substrate
In terms of soil, the lavender heather has similar requirements to azaleas or rhododendrons. The soil should be well drained and moist. Lavender heather also feels at home in a slightly acidic environment. Heavy soils with a high lime content are less well tolerated. An oversupply of nutrients in the soil can also do more harm than good to the lavender heather. There is a risk that the rather thin hair roots will burn. By adding sand or peat, however, the nutrient content in the soil can be reduced. Due to the similar site conditions, rhododendron earth is also very suitable for the shadow bell. Incidentally, if the pH value is 5, this is the ideal substrate for the lavender heather. Reading tip: Measuring the pH value in the soil - That's how it's done
Keywords for the right substrate:
- permeable
- loose
- moist
- slightly sour
- low lime content
Planting lavender heather - explained step by step
First of all: When planting lavender heather you should note that the plant is highly poisonous. This applies to all plant parts. Signs of poisoning have been observed particularly in grazing animals. However, there is no serious danger to humans. You should still wear gloves when planting lavender heather.
- Select location.
- Loosen and prepare the soil. You can improve poor soil with compost.
- Note the planting distance of 1.5 meters to other plants.
- Dig the planting hole. The top floor thickness should be at least 30 centimeters.
- Place plant.
- Close the planting hole.
- Water the lavender heather well.
Tip: Coarse sand ensures permeability and can also be used if the substrate contains too many nutrients. If you use rhododendron earth, you can also mix it with sand. Sufficient watering is also important after planting so that the plant can root well and gather strength for next year's flowering.
Planting lavender heather in the bucket
Heather lavender also thrives very well in tubs or flower boxes. Smaller varieties such as "Passion" are recommended for this. Always note the following when holding the bucket:
- Always place potted plants in a sunny to semi-shady spot.
- The bucket should have enough drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
- Pottery pieces on theThe bottom of the container also prevents waterlogging.
- Water the lavender heather in the bucket regularly. The root ball must not dry out.
- In winter, wrap the planter with garden fleece and cover the bottom with brushwood.