Can Mexican Heather Be Kept As a Perennial Plant Indoors?

Description

• Grown indoors or outdoors, Mexican heather, sometimes also known as false heather, requires a roomy container. The plants grow only about 18 inches tall, but have a nearly equal spread. The flowers are normally purple, but may also be white or pink in some varieties. They are borne in the leaf axils or spaces where stems and leaves meet. If grown outdoors, Mexican heather will bloom prolifically during the growing season and will continue to do so when moved indoors.

Indoor Culture

• In cold winter climates, bring Mexican heather indoors in the fall by first moving the plant from its sunny outdoor site to a shadier outdoor location for about a week. This acclimates the heather to the lower light environment provided by even the brightest indoor setting. Thereafter, move indoors to the sunniest possible location -- a south facing windowsill is ideal. Cut back long, spindly stems and water whenever the soil surface feels dry. The plant may take a few weeks to adjust to the transition, but will resume growing and flowering afterwards.

Outdoor Growing

• Mexican heather plants brought indoors in fall can also be used as a source of cuttings in spring. Take 3 inch tip cuttings, remove lower leaves and insert in small pots of damp vermiculite. Place in plastic bags with a few air holes, position in a location with bright, indirect light and watch for signs of new growth. Pot up young plants and place them in a sheltered, shady outdoor location after all danger of frost has passed. After a week or two of acclimation, the plants will be ready to be installed in sunny to partly shaded locations.

Uses

• In the house, Mexican heather is an undemanding plant for medium to large containers and can be grouped with other sun-loving houseplants. Outside, it makes an excellent edger or front-of-the-border accent. It is a natural for wildlife gardens, as the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The plants are also relatively unappealing to deer. Once established, Mexican heather is heat- and drought-tolerant and makes a good addition to xeric or dry gardens. The plants can also be combined with other, larger specimens in mixed container plantings.