False Heather Plant Care

False Heather (Hudsonia montana) belongs to the Cistaceae family within the Hudsonia genus. False Heather is native to North Carolina. False Heather is also known as Pineapple Weed.

False Heather displays a low, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. False Heather produces small, yellow, fragrant flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 0.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted False Heather every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

False Heather thrives in full sun.

Hudsonia montana tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. False Heather prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.

Sandy, well-draining soil mix with low fertility and high acidity. Good drainage is essential for False Heather to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed False Heather every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and sandy, well-draining soil mix with low fertility and high acidity. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

False Heather is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

False Heather can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune False Heather while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

False Heather is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

False Heather can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to heath hudsonia plant care, which shares the same genus.

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False Heather is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

False Heather grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. False Heather is native to North Carolina. In cooler regions, grow False Heather as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.