SimplePlant

Ericaceae

Heather

Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Calluna

Pets and kids

  • CatsNot sure
  • DogsNot sure
  • KidsNot sure
Why

Cats: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Dogs: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Kids: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for young children, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with a doctor or poison control.

Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.

Heather: Photography of the flower w:Calluna vulgaris .
Photo: Aqwis, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (73)
Arabic
حشيشة المكنسة, فتون, خلنج
Armenian
Հավամրգի
arz
حشيشة المكنسه
Asturian
Argaña, Beriza, Carrizu, Gareña, Gorbiza
ba
Ябай арса
Basque
Ainar arrunt, Txilar arrunt
Belarusian
Верас
Bosnian
Calluna
Bulgarian
Обикновена калуна
Cantonese
帚石南屬
Catalan
Bruguerola
Chinese
帚石楠, 彩萼石楠, 帚石南, 帚石南屬, 红方柏, 蘇格蘭石楠
Croatian
Vrijes, Vrijesak
csb
Wrzos
Czech
Vřes obecný
Danish
Hedelyng
Dutch
Struikhei, Struikheide
English
Heather, Scotch heather, Scottish heather, Ling, Ling heather
Esperanto
Kaluno
Estonian
Kanarbik, Harilik kanarbik
Faroese
Vanligur heiðalyngur
Finnish
Kanerva, Kangaskanerva
French
Callune, Bruyere callune, Bruyère callune, Callune vulgaire
frr
Hiaskrüüs
Galician
Queiroa, Queiroga
German
Besenheide, Heidekraut
Hebrew
אברש מצוי
Hungarian
Csarab, Csarabfű, Közönséges csarab
Icelandic
Beitilyng
Irish
Fraoch, Fraoch mór, Fraoch coiteann
Italian
Brugo
Japanese
ギョリュウモドキ属, ギョリュウモドキ, ヘザー, 御柳擬
Kazakh
Көкбұта
Korean
칼루나
kw
Menkek
Latin
Calluna
Latvian
Sila virsis, Parastais virsis
Lithuanian
Šilinis viržis, Viržiai, Viržis
lmo
Brugh
Luxembourgish
Heed
Macedonian
Обичен врес
Malayalam
കാലൂണ
mrj
Йӓнгӓршуды
myv
Урядыця куракш
nds
Bezemheed
Norwegian Bokmål
Røsslyng, Calluna
Norwegian Nynorsk
Røsslyng
olo
Kanabro
os
Мыдæг, Вереск
Persian
علف جاروب
Polish
Wrzos zwyczajny, Wrzos pospolity
Portuguese
Calluna
Romanian
Mărtăloagă
Romansh
Brutg
Russian
Вереск обыкновенный
sco
Calluna
se
Livdnju, Heavušdaŋas
Serbian
Vres
Serbian (Latin)
Vrijes
sgs
Šėlā
sjd
Нуҏҏт
Slovak
Vres, Vres obyčajný, Šedivník
Slovenian
Jesenska vresa
Spanish
Argana, Argaña, Azuleja, Bercol, Berecilla, Bereza, Berezo, Berezo negro
stq
Riesheede, Fodderheede
Swedish
Ljung, Callluna, Ljungsläktet, Vanlig ljung
Tatar
Арчан
Turkish
Süpürge otu
Ukrainian
Верес звичайний
vep
Kanabr'
vro
Kanarik
Welsh
Grug mêl, Grug cyffredin, Grug ysgub
wuu
帚石楠

Synonyms

  • Calluna atlantica Seem.
  • Calluna beleziana Rouy
  • Calluna ciliaris Schur
  • Calluna elegantissima Sennen
  • Calluna erica DC.
  • Calluna genuina Ducommun
  • Calluna sagittifolia (Stokes) Gray
  • Calluna vulgaris f. alba (Weston) Braun-Blanq.
  • Calluna vulgaris f. purpurea (G.Don) Braun-Blanq.
  • Calluna vulgaris subsp. elegantissima (Sennen) Mateo
  • Calluna vulgaris var. alba (Weston) G.Don
  • Calluna vulgaris var. purpurea G.Don
  • Erica alportii K.Koch
  • Erica ciliaris Huds.
  • Erica confusa Gand.
  • Erica eremocharis Gand.
  • Erica glabra Gilib.
  • Erica gracilis K.Koch
  • Erica herbacea Georgi
  • Erica lutescens K.Koch
  • Erica nana K.Koch
  • Erica prostrata K.Koch
  • Erica reginae K.Koch
  • Erica sagittifolia Stokes
  • Erica tomentosa K.Koch
  • Erica vulgaris L.
  • Erica vulgaris var. alba Weston
  • Erica vulgaris var. glabriuscula J.Stokes
  • Erica vulgaris var. hirsuta K.F.Waitz
  • Erica vulgaris var. plena K.F.Waitz
  • Erica vulgaris var. squarrosa K.F.Waitz
  • Erica vulgaris var. villosa J.Stokes
  • Ericoides vulgaris (L.) Merino

Characteristics

Growth habit
Shrub
Lifespan
Perennial
In the US and Canada
Canada: introduced, Lower 48 states: introduced, St. Pierre and Miquelon: introduced

Photos

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.