natural herbs
Bog Heather
Erica tetralix
Herb: Bog Heather
Latin name: Erica tetralix
Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Description of the plant:
Plant:
EvergreenShrub
Height:
30 cm(11 3/4 inch)
Flowering:
June toOctober
Habitat of Bog Heather:
Bogs, wet heaths and moors, rarely on drier soils.Other uses of the herb:
Stems are used for making brooms, brushes etc. A yellow dye is obtained from the plant. Plants can be grown as a ground cover. They should be clipped in the spring in order to encourage denser growth.Propagation of Bog Heather:
Seed - surface sow in a sandy compost in a cold frame in spring. Keep moist. Prick out the plants as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them in their permanent positions when they are 5 - 8cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm long taken from twiggy lateral growths near the base of the plant, July/August in a frame. Remove the leaves from the bottom part of the stem without causing any damage to the bark. The cuttings root in a few weeks if they are given some bottom heat. Plant out in spring. Layering in spring or autumn. Plants can be "dropped" and then dug up and divided about 6 - 12 months later. Dropping involves digging up the plant and then replanting it about 15 - 20cm deeper in the soil to encourage roots to form along the stems.Cultivation of the herb:
Bogs, wet heaths and moors, rarely on drier soils.Medicinal use of Bog Heather:
None knownKnown hazards of Erica tetralix:
None knownPlant information taken from the Plants For A Future.