Heath is a perennial grown for its blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 7, shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
5-7
pH Range
4.3-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Heath on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether heath actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score heath against your land's real conditions.
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What Heath is
Heath grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Heath
Heath grows in USDA zones 5 through 7. Heath does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 80 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
1 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
80+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant heath in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Heath prefers pH 4.3 to 8.2 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut heath blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — heath isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Heath offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Heath thrives
Heath is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 7. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–7·Where Heath growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Heath can grow in these states:
See if Heath will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether heath actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Heath in my zone?
Heath grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Heath?
Most growers plant heath after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 80-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Heath need?
Heath needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Heath need?
Heath prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Heath attract pollinators?
Yes — heath's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Heath safe for pets?
Heath is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)