Heather is an evergreen shrub, also known as Calluna vulgaris, that has been a symbol of Scotland for centuries. It usually blooms twice a year there, in early and late summer, and is at its peak in August. If you want to see fields of heather in Scotland, one of the best places to visit is located just outside of Edinburgh: Pentland Hills Regional park. This flowering bush is often found in the moors and hills of the country, where its bright pinkish-purple blossoms are visible from miles away. As it grows on as much as five million acres of Scottish moorland, glens and hills, heather is seen as an iconic symbol of Scotland and its presence in the Highlands is revered. 

Scottish heather is also known as “Ling heather, referring the to the old Norse word Lyng, meaning “light in weight.” It comes in many varieties and colours, ranging from white to pink to deep purple. 

‍

WHAT IS HEATHER USED FOR?

‍

Heather has many uses, both practical and symbolic. Medicinal uses for heather include treating coughs, colds, digestive problems and insomnia. Scottish heather honey is rich in minerals and was traditionally used in medicinal drinks and potions.

Heather’s bright colour makes it perfect for dying wool and linen fabrics, and even today “heather” is a popular colour in traditional Scottish clothing and tartans. Its strong scent can be used to make essential oils for soaps, candles and perfumes. In the time of the Vikings it was even used to make heather ale, whose highly secretive recipe is the stuff of legends. In Scotland, heather is also used for landscaping, and especially on Scotland's islands, heather played a major role in building construction. It was used in walls and thatched roofs, and for ropes, brooms and as a filling for bouncy, fragrant mattresses called “heather beds,” for which the flowers we positioned near the sleeper’s head. Heather’s dense structure also provides a home to small animals like birds and rabbits in the fields. 

WHAT DOES HEATHER SYMBOLIZE?

‍

Heather is deeply rooted in Scottish folklore, with many stories, poems, and myths involving this flower. One of the most famous examples is the poem “The Heatherbleen” by Robert Burns, which is about love and the beauty of the heather Highlands. Because it grows in the wild, heather is known as a symbol of solitude; faeries, who also enjoy living in private, are said to feast on stocks of heather. 

White heather, which is more rare in Scotland, is thought to be lucky, especially for brides, and sprigs of heather are common in bridal bouquets and table arrangements. This tradition comes from a 3^rd century myth in which a young woman, Malvina, betrothed to a Celtic warrior named Oscar, loses him to battle. A messenger delivers Oscar’s final offering of his undying love, a spray of purple heather. When the bride-to-be’s tears fall on the flowers, they turn white, prompting her to say: “although it is the symbol of my sorrow, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it.” Further to this legend, the famously superstitious Scots believed that white heather only grew on ground where blood had not been shed, and over the final resting place of faeries. 

White heather is closely associated with battles and conflict, and is said to bring good luck to whomever wears it. The Chiefs of the Clan MacDonald attached a spray of wild Scottish heather to their spears. The Druids (an ancient order of Celtic priests)  also considered it a sacred plant. Even today some people consider it to have almost supernatural properties, sort of a lucky charm, believed to offer protection from harm.

The beauty of the heather Highlands and the symbolism behind this flower make it a beloved part of Scotland’s culture. From its medicinal uses to its place in myths and stories, heather is an integral part of Scottish heritage to be celebrated.