Calluna vulgaris Silver Knight - Heather

Calluna vulgaris 'Silver Knight' is a delightful variety of summer heather, whose silver foliage is adorned with numerous spikes of lavender-pink flowers for several weeks in summer. The plant then transforms into a small, bright, tender pastel ball. Its fine, velvety foliage often reddens in cold weather. It remains decorative all year round and structures the borders and rockeries that can be a bit sad in winter.

Calluna vulgaris is the only species in the genus Calluna belonging to the Ericaceae family. In its natural habitat, it is the dominant vegetation of acidic heathlands in the cold regions of the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. 'Silver Knight' is an evergreen shrub that forms small, bushy, slightly dishevelled tufts, approximately 35 cm (13.8 in) in height and 45 cm (17.7 in) in width. Its growth is quite slow. Decorative all year round, it offers a long flowering period, starting from late July and lasting until September-October, depending on the climate. Its small mauve-pink flowers, shaped like urns, are densely clustered in long, upright, compact but flexible spikes. The silvery colour of its scaly foliage is due to the presence of very fine hairs, which forms a beautiful association with the flowering. With cold weather, the small leaves turn purple. It is a honey plant, used in beekeeping due to the high sugar content of its nectar. Heather honey is characterised by its gelatinous texture and dark colour.

'Silver Knight' thrives in acidic soil in low-maintenance gardens and wild areas, adding a touch of refinement. It can be used in groups, with other varieties and cultivars (which are countless), small grasses, or even dwarf asters. This summer heather brightens up rockeries and borders along pathways. It adapts very well to container gardening and will create beautiful seasonal compositions. Planted in ericaceous beds, it will cover the base of rhododendrons or witch hazels.

Calluna vulgaris tolerates moderate grazing. It represents an important source of food for sheep and deer when vegetation is covered by snow. It is capable of regenerating after fire. In the past, this plant was considered magical and used in white magic rituals; it was believed to have protective powers in the heathlands of Brittany, where it is said to repel ghostly spirits. Calluna is also an ingredient in gruit, an aromatic composition used in brewing beer before the use of hops in the Middle Ages. Its flowering tops have long been used in herbal medicine, as they are reputed to "dissolve bladder stones".