Scottish Calluna vulgaris , the beloved flower native of Scotland , is a tough industrial plant well suited to that country ’s terrain and climate . Also call Scotch broom , this flora is a true heather in the Ericaceae family .
While heather flowers are not wide known for their olfactory property , Scotch heather ( Calluna vulgaris , USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9 ) is the base for some perfumes and ale , and some say its fragrance evoke the essence of the Scots countryside .
About Scottish Heather
While heather is not the national flower of Scotland ( that deed belongs to the thistle ) , itholds a exceptional significancefor Scots and turn copiously throughout the country ’s moorlands and hillside . Also foretell ling or usual heather , it ’s an evergreen plant shrub that reaches about 24 inches gamy and spread out outward , sometimes creating a slow mat of leaf that is pry as a groundcover when planted in dwelling garden .
Itgrows bestin full Sunday and acidulent soil , postulate a pH lower than 6.0 . It has purple or pinkish flowers that farm ambrosia that attracts bee and butterflies .
The Scots have made in effect use of this industrial plant over meter . Its tough fiber have been used for thatching roof , especially in the highlands where there are few trees . It was long used for bedding and has also been brew in teatime or plaster to treat coughing , colds or rheumatoid arthritis .
The Scent of Scottish Heather
Fragrance is always difficult to discover in words , so the just thing is to find some heather and bury your nose in it ! Scots often name to its fragrance , and there is even a poem ( conceive to have been compose by John MacFarlane ) title ' When the Heather Scents the Air , ' an ode to the writer ’s homeland of Scotland .
The sweetness of heather is often described as flowered , which is so all-inclusive an adjective as to be meaningless . It is also called " gentle , " which suggests that its scent is subtle . Some say heather flowers smell like dearest or lavender with smokey and earthy tinge . Some liken heather to honeysuckle .
Tip
The scent of heather flowers is often described as sweet and floral .
However difficult it is to pinpoint the perfume of heather , it is used in soaps , pastiche and perfume , where its floral scent is widely considered reminiscent of the Scottish countryside .
Heather honey has become a strong point item respect for its distinctive , earthy flavor , while heather ale is a traditional Scots beer that habituate heather as the primary ingredient , often compare to the feel of Anthemis nobilis or mass .
