Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
-
Types
-
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Habitat
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-8
9-11
Sunset Zone
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Round
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Ammonium Nitrate
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Skin inflammation
-
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Food for insects
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Whole plant
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CALLUNA vulgaris
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
Common Name
Heather, Common heather, Ling
Alternanthera
In Hindi
हीथ
Gudrisag, Garundi
In German
Heidekraut
Alternanthera
In French
bruyère
Alternanthera
In Spanish
brezo
Alternanthera
In Greek
ερείκη
Alternanthera
In Portuguese
urze
Alternanthera
In Polish
wrzos
Alternanthera
In Latin
Heather
Alternanthera
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Caryophyllales
Family
Ericaceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Calluna
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Ericoideae
Gomphrenoideae
Importance of Heather and Alternanthera
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Heather and Alternanthera. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Heather and Alternanthera as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems whereas of Alternanthera is Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and Antioxidants. Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation while Alternanthera has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation.
Compare Facts of Heather vs Alternanthera
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Heather vs Alternanthera and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Heather are whereas of Alternanthera have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Heather has no showy fruits and Alternanthera has no showy fruits. Also Heather is not flowering and Alternanthera is not flowering . You can compare Heather and Alternanthera facts and facts of other plants too.