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Alpine RockeryShrubs

Cassiope mertensiana var. gracilis

An evergreen, very small, rounded shrub to a height of up to 15cm with tiny dark green oval leaves and white bell-shaped flowers in spring. This form is very free-flowering

Synonyms

Cassiope mertensiana 'Gracilis'
Cassiope lycopodioides 'Gracilis'
see moreCassiope lycopodioides var. gracilis
Cassiope mertensiana subsp. gracilis

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Clay

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ericaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Cassiope are small, heath-like evergreen shrubs with tiny, dark green leaves in four ranks, and solitary, nodding, bell or urn-shaped white flowers from the upper leaf axils in late spring and early summer
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Ideal for a partially shaded rock garden or open woodland. Needs an acidic, moist, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a cold frame in autumn or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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