United Kingdom
I have heather thts been died blue and I wanted to know how to keep the colour when its planted outside
- 17 Nov, 2009
Featured on:
heathers
Answers
Why not plant a naturally coloured flowering plant instead? There are some beautiful plants around which will keep their colour without spraypaint! It's like gilding the lily, really....trying to improve on nature.
Sorry if you really like painted heather - I don't, as you can probably tell.
17 Nov, 2009
Not my cup of tea either spritz I think heathers have pretty colours to start with.
17 Nov, 2009
Exactly, Drc! :-))
17 Nov, 2009
sorry must add my name to the decenters
17 Nov, 2009
I so agree with Spritz. Gilding the lily is exactly right.
17 Nov, 2009
I have to agree...the heathers look so artificial when they are sprayed....:<(
17 Nov, 2009
i agree im not keen on the highly sprayed heather myself, like the natural look best :o( sorry
17 Nov, 2009
I personally would not give a spay painted heather garden room. I would also be concerned that the paint would limit the plants ability to breath and for photosynthesis to take place. I have a feeling that this is something some 'arty' garden designer did for the likes of Chelsea and it has taken off. The heather used - calluna vulgaris will, unless kept strictly under control, become rank and grow to anything up to a foot in height. Find a nice erica with coloured flowers Bluespruce can probably advise.
17 Nov, 2009
I Agree with you MG, but my garden centre had a lots of these in September in very bright colours greens, yellow, blue red and purple,and they seem to sell very quickly so they must be a market for them? But like you said surely they will die? or does it wash off at the first rain?
17 Nov, 2009
I first saw these at the Bath and West Show in September - and yes, Denise - in lots of garish colours. I certainly wouldn't buy them - they look so unnatural!
17 Nov, 2009
Drc - I have no idea whether the 'paint' will wash off but I doubt it. Enjoy heathers for what they are, do not expect to have red, blue, yellow etc. if you want those colours in your garden go find plants that have those coloured leaves... they DO exist!
Sorry I am a little peed off with the folks that are producing these abominations...
17 Nov, 2009
The questioner has bought some and we havent come up an answer or have we? 1)We dont think it will survive.
2) but if it does it will revert to its true state.
3) But to be more positive Goy members can suggest alternative blue
plants
Hope this helps the questioner.
17 Nov, 2009
Hi-I have to say that I like painted heathers, especially blue ones, and I don't see what all the fuss is about. I think you might have to keep it indoors so the colour wont wash off. i'm not sure though as i'm only an amateur gardener. I hope this helps :)
4 Nov, 2011
It does not matter where you keep it! If it does not die the dye will grow out and the plant will revert to its real colour. in any new growth.
4 Nov, 2011
Hi Clairekb and welcome to GoY - not often we have a question revived after nearly two years! Me I'm just thankful that spray painted heathers seem to have vanished from the GC's round here.
5 Nov, 2011
They're still for sale down here, MG, and I haven't changed my opinion of them.
Sorry Claire. You're entitled to like them! Welcome to GoY by the way.
5 Nov, 2011
I have just bought 8 of these heathers and would like to know how they grow outside in pots, and to the lady that wanted to know how to keep the colour, spray with food dye the colour your plants are
22 Sep, 2014
Hi. It's a year after the initial question but I've only just joined the site. I have natural colour heather in my garden but I also buy the spray painted ones at this time of year too. I think they brighten up the outside front of house. I keep mine in tubs. The colour lasts right through winter and then has returned to a white heather which also looks lovely in the tubs over the winter.
15 Oct, 2015
It’s 2024 - and these are still being sold and I like them, I have 6 they have instantly brightened a new flowerbed whilst I’m waiting for my spring flowers to emerge.
My question is the same as the original poster in 2009!
It still remains unanswered! PLEASE help those of us that like them, how and what to use to maintain the colour.
no other comments please.
10 Sep, 2024
Related photos
Related blogs
Presumably if its spray dyed it will grow out and you would have to keep dyeing it? You might have to ask the suppliers?
17 Nov, 2009