Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Calluna vulgaris ‘Winter Chocolate’ is a striking variety of heather with year-round color that you have to see to believe. In the spring, its long wands are creamy salmon colored. In the summer, the foliage takes on golden and orange tones with pink tips. Lavender blooms cover the tips from late summer until fall. In winter, the foliage turns rich shades of chocolate and bronze. Its fine texture and outstanding color will take center stage in any garden setting.
This evergreen shrub has a mounding, dense habit that reaches 12 – 18 inches tall and 2 – 3 feet wide. This heather is easy to grow as long as its culture requirements are met. It is waterwise once established and is resistant to deer. It is cold hardy to zone 5 and will retain its colorful foliage all winter. The flowers attract bees and butterflies in the summer months. Use it as a colorful groundcover or plant it in drifts with other heathers to create a tapestry effect.
Winter Chocolate Heather Care
Winter Chocolate thrives in full sun, which will bring out its best colors. It prefers sandy, well-drained soil with an acidic pH. Alkaline soil can cause chlorosis and poor growth; you can amend such soil with sulfur or peat moss to increase the acidity. Winter Chocolate can be planted any time of the year, except during extreme heat or frost. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, but never let it sit in standing water. Apply a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect the roots from frost and keep the weeds down.
Lightly shear this shrub after flowering to maintain a full, compact appearance. Avoid cutting into old wood because this will stunt new growth.
Winter Chocolate Heather Spacing
For mass planting, space individual plants approximately 2 feet apart on center and stagger the rows to create a natural appearance.If growing in a container, select a pot that is weather resistant with good drainage. The pot diameter should be at least 20 inches.
Winter Chocolate Heather Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 1 Foot
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Low
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple
- Bloom Time
- Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green Variegated
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Winter Chocolate Heather
- Botanical Name
- CALLUNA VULGARIS 'WINTER CHOCOLATE'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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