How much sun does White heather need?

White heather grows best in full sun conditions.

When does White heather bloom?

White heather blooms in June, July, and August.

Where is White heather native?

White heather (Cassiope mertensiana) is native to CA, ID, MT, NV and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does White heather attract?

White heather draws bumble bees.

White heather

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Cassiope mertensiana

Last reviewed: October 2026

White heather (Cassiope mertensiana) is a perennial shrub native to CA, ID, MT, NV and 2 more states. It blooms in June, July, and August. The flowers draw bumble bees.

Toxicity unknown

White heather (Cassiope mertensiana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

3"–8" H × 8"–16" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CA, ID, MT, NV and 2 more states

Pollinators

bumble bees

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada North American Deserts

A dwarf, mat-forming evergreen shrub with tiny, scale-like leaves densely overlapping the stems, resembling a miniature conifer. Bears small, nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers in summer at high elevation among rocks and snowmelt basins.

Growing White heather

Grow White heather in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 3 to 8 inches tall and spread 8 to 16 inches wide.

Wildlife value

The bell-shaped flowers provide an important nectar source for bumble bees in alpine habitat where the bloom season is very short.

Common questions

How much sun does White heather need?: White heather grows best in full sun conditions.
When does White heather bloom?: White heather blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is White heather native?: White heather (Cassiope mertensiana) is native to CA, ID, MT, NV and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does White heather attract?: White heather draws bumble bees.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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