Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Southern Africa
Habitat
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-8
9-11
Sunset Zone
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Oval to roundish
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Ammonium Nitrate
Equal amount of N,P,K
Pests and Diseases
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Aphids
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
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Birds
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
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
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Fruits
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
CALLUNA vulgaris
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Common Name
Heather, Common heather, Ling
Large Num-Num
In German
Heidekraut
Natal Plum
In French
bruyère
natal Plum
In Spanish
brezo
Ciruela Natal
In Greek
ερείκη
Natal Plum
In Portuguese
urze
Natal Plum
In Polish
wrzos
Natal Plum
In Latin
Heather
Natal Plum
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Gentianales
Family
Ericaceae
Apocynaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Ericoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Importance of Heather and Natal Plum
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Heather and Natal Plum. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Heather and Natal Plum 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 Natal Plum is Iron, Potassium and Vitamin C. Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation while Natal Plum has beauty benefits as follows: Skin inflammation.
Compare Facts of Heather vs Natal Plum
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 Natal Plum 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 Natal Plum have Mildly Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Heather has no showy fruits and Natal Plum has showy fruits. Also Heather is not flowering and Natal Plum is not flowering . You can compare Heather and Natal Plum facts and facts of other plants too.