Plant Badges Growing in Your Garden

[NewEnglander]

Heather tends to spread 3 feet or more. The purple one I have is currently in a wooden box container with some other plants, but I will need to transplant it later this year.

You could start it in a small container, but I would think you'd have to eventually transplant it (I could be wrong).

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the info! Does the heather overwinter well out of doors or do you move it inside a garage or some cool space?

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks for the info!

No problem
Oh, and I forgot, there is a variety that grows more "up" rather than spreads out, so this might work for container gardening. There are about 500 varities of heather, so your best bet is go to your local nursery & see what they have.

Does the heather overwinter well out of doors or do you move it inside a garage or some cool space?

Heather is very winter hardy

[azwildcat96]

My clan plant badge is driftwood. I'm nowhere near a beach, but I can walk to the nearest sandy desert wash and pick some up just as easily.

[thescot]

My plant badge (Donnachaidh) is bracken fern. It grows all over the place, and on the back of my property, there is a goodly bit in the low area. I've picker and used it in my bonnet several times over the years, but I find that it wilts pretty fast. At the Stone Mountain Games 10 or 12 years ago, I picked enough for anyone to wear it who might care to, and it was all in pretty sad shape by the late afternoon.

I may go for artificial sometime just to have some around for my collection of bonnets.

[BoldHighlander]

I've picker and used it in my bonnet several times over the years, but I find that it wilts pretty fast. At the Stone Mountain Games 10 or 12 years ago, I picked enough for anyone to wear it who might care to, and it was all in pretty sad shape by the late afternoon.

Jim, have you tried wrapping the cut ends in a moist paper towel wrapped in plastic or foil? Sometimes that helps to extend the life of a cutting.

Just a thought

[piperdbh]

Jim, have you tried wrapping the cut ends in a moist paper towel wrapped in plastic or foil? Sometimes that helps to extend the life of a cutting.

Just a thought

...or get a piece of fern from a florist. The kind that they use to "green" an arrangement holds up well, even though it's not the exact species that you're looking for.

[sydnie7]

My plant badge (Donnachaidh) is bracken fern. . .[snip]

I must confess I had no clue what the Donnachaidh plant badge was, nor the identity of this delicate fern that "volunteers" in the shadiest corner of our patio. I think it is based next door, but has spread under the fence. How delightful to not only learn its name, but to discover its connection to both Bob's and my clan!



And XMTS is well-represented, too, at least until I get out there and do some clean-up We don't get the lush dandelions that others show, just these skimpy, weedy, insect-ridden examples.

[Schiehallion]

In answer to growing heather in a container... Yes very possible as there are many varieties of heather. Look for ERICA species which like an acid soil. although E.carnea will tolerate alkaline, "Springwood White' is an good example and flowers late winter to spring. ERICA x darleyensis 'White Glow' will grow in any good soil, being alkaline tollerent. For a summer flowering heather CALLUNA vulgaris. acid soil and doesn't tolerate alkalinity. A good white is 'Kinlochruel' don't allow the plants to suffer long periods of drought and don't water with tap water as this my be alkaline. All heathers may be trimmed after flowering, cutting off the browning dead flower spikes. If container grown they may need replacing every few years, but do best in a sunny garden. I have grown them in window boxes successfully . They are frost hardy.

[creagdhubh]

Forgive me if this isn't the place to post this thread (mod's please feel free to move it if needed) but given that there has been at least two threads that have been devoted to clan plant badges: here & here; I thought it'd be fun if those who have their clan's plant badge growing in their garden/on their property to post pictures of them here.

As I just recently added my clans plant badge to a rather bare spot on my property, I thought I'd kick off the proceedings:



The white heather, plant badge of the Macdonell's of Keppoch:




Though not a plant badge, I thought I'd mention this Irish tatting fern that was peeking out behind the heather in the above photo. I had lost one two years ago & was thrilled to see this one coming back just last week


In a planter box I have some purple heather, the plant badge for most of the branches of Clan Donald.
Later this year I'll transplant it in a section of the property I have earmarked for it:

Is that white heather I presume? That is the plant badge of my clan as well, the Clan Macpherson. I used to order fresh white heather from Scotland every blooming season. Looks great!

[Kornkob]

My Google-Fu has failed me:

What reference would I use to determine the plant badge of Clan Gunn (sept Robinson, if it matters)?