The Latin name of heather is ‘Calluna Vulgaris’ and its generic name, ‘Calluna’, is derived from a Greek word which means ‘to sweep’. The plant gets this name because the branches of the plants were fashioned into brooms. So you just might have seen witches and she-devils zipping past on a broom made from heather circa the Middle Ages.

This evergreen shrub actually belongs to the Heath family and it is also known by the names of ‘Ling’ or ‘Scotch Heather’, which might mistakenly give rise to images of drunken witches. The normal height of the plant is only 1 meter, its leaves are small, narrow and whorled. The flowers bloom in late summers and are usually purple or mauve in colour. The flower is widely grown all over Western Europe and also in some parts of North East, North America as well as Siberia. They thrive well on poor as well as acidic or sandy soils, and any type of soil that is common to a heath.

Heather is popularly found in gardens as an ornamental plant and is also used for landscaping. The plant has other uses also - it serves as a source of food for various animals like sheep and deer. The red grouse feeds on both young shoots as well as the seeds of the plant.

Humans have also found some edible uses of this plant. A flavouring is produced from the leaves of the heather and used in beer and in tea. The flower also yields a good amount of nectar and is a potent source for honey. The bark of the heather is used for tanning purposes. In the Middle Ages, heather was used for brewing beer. An ergot-like fungus is generally found on the leaves so these days, this is used as a hallucinogenic intoxicant.