Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants
Origin
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Southwestern United States, California
Habitat
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
Dry areas, meadows
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-8
4-9
Sunset Zone
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Pink
Crimson
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Oblong
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Do Not over Water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Ammonium Nitrate
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Hummingbirds
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
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
Burns, Snakebite, Stomach aliments
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Whole plant
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
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
Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CALLUNA vulgaris
PENSTEMON eatonii
Common Name
Heather, Common heather, Ling
Firecracker Penstemon
In Hindi
हीथ
Firecracker penstemon
In German
Heidekraut
Kracher penstemon
In French
bruyère
Firecracker penstemon
In Spanish
brezo
Penstemon del petardo
In Greek
ερείκη
πυροτέχνημα penstemon
In Portuguese
urze
Penstemon do foguete
In Polish
wrzos
petarda penstemon
In Latin
Heather
Firecracker Persicaria
Family
Ericaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Heather and Firecracker Penstemon
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Heather and Firecracker Penstemon. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Heather and Firecracker Penstemon 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 Firecracker Penstemon is Burns, Snakebite and Stomach aliments. Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation while Firecracker Penstemon has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation.
Compare Facts of Heather vs Firecracker Penstemon
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 Firecracker Penstemon 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 Firecracker Penstemon have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Heather has no showy fruits and Firecracker Penstemon has no showy fruits. Also Heather is not flowering and Firecracker Penstemon is not flowering . You can compare Heather and Firecracker Penstemon facts and facts of other plants too.