False heather

False heather: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense, rounded shrublet 30–40 cm tall and wide, branching from the base.

Leaf

Small, narrow and lance-shaped, 1–2 cm, glossy dark green.

Flower

Small, tubular flowers with six petals spread out like a star, lilac, pink, purple or white.

Flowering

From June to October, or until the first frost.

Origin

Mexico and Central America; not hardy in our climate.

Flowering: June–October · Plants: May–June · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Flowers tirelessly from June until the frosts, without any deadheading.
• Compact and tidy: ideal for pots, window boxes and the edge of a border.
• Fine, glossy leaves that look fresh all summer.
• Attracts bees and hoverflies.
• Can be overwintered in a bright, frost-free place and kept for years.

False heather: where does it grow best?

• Sun to light shade; in full midday sun keep the soil well moist.
• Light, humus-rich and well-drained soil, or good potting compost.
• Evenly moist; do not let it dry out and avoid wet feet.
• In pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, at the edge of a border or on a balcony.
• Plant 5–7 per m² as bedding.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Frost tender: plant out after the last frost (mid-May)

Goes well with

• Verbena: Trailing verbena in the same pot or window box.
• Lobelia: Small blue flowers at the edge of the pot.
• Ornamental grass: A fine grass as a taller centre plant in a container.
• Silver ragwort: Grey leaves as a contrast to the dark green.
• Begonia: Another long-flowering plant for pots and bedding.

False heather: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May–June.

1. Only plant outside from mid-May to June, after the last frost.
2. Set the plants at the same depth as in their pots, 25–30 cm apart.
3. In pots, use good potting compost with some grit or perlite for drainage.
4. Water straight away and keep the soil moist for the first few weeks.
5. A pot with a drainage hole and a layer of gravel at the bottom prevents wet feet.

Care

Water

Regularly, so the soil stays lightly moist; in pots often daily in summer.

Feeding

Liquid feed for flowering plants every two weeks from June to September.

Deadheading

Not needed: the small flowers drop by themselves.

Shape

Naturally compact; trim protruding shoots if it loses its shape.

Overwintering

Before the first frost, move the pot to a bright, cool place (10–15 °C) and water sparingly.

Tip: Use a few plants as a low edge at the front of a window box or border: they flower until the frosts and stay neat without any effort.

False heather: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: In spring, in March–April, if you have overwintered it.

How:

• Cut the shrub back by a third to keep it compact.
• Remove dead and weak shoots.
• In summer you can lightly shorten protruding shoots.

Caution: Do not prune an old shrub hard into old wood: it will be slow to regrow.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

From May to August, tip cuttings of 5–8 cm in moist cutting compost; they root in 2–3 weeks at room temperature.

Sowing

Possible in February–March indoors at 20–22 °C, but cuttings are quicker and give more uniform plants.

False heather: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to 0 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Not hardy: dies at around 0 °C.
• Overwinter in a pot in a bright, cool, frost-free place, such as a cold greenhouse or a cool room.
• In winter, water just enough to stop the root ball drying out completely.
• Or take cuttings in August and overwinter them on a windowsill.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf drop in winter: Too dark or too warm indoors. Move it somewhere brighter and cooler.
• Whitefly or aphids: Mainly indoors in winter. Spray with a mild soap solution or use yellow sticky traps.
• Withered shoots: Caused by drying out in a pot. Water more regularly.

Through the year

• March: Cut back and repot overwintered plants.
• April: Give overwintered plants more light and water.
• May: Harden off and plant out after mid-May.
• June: Start of flowering. Feed every two weeks.
• July: Full flower. Water pots.
• August: Take cuttings for winter.
• September: Flowering continues.
• October: Before the first frost, bring it into a bright, cool place.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name hyssopifolia means ‘with leaves like hyssop’, an aromatic Mediterranean herb.
• Cuphea comes from the Greek kyphos, ‘curved’, after the slightly curved shape of the ovary.