Cassiope tetragona aka White Arctic Mountain Heather

Cassiope tetragona is a small shrub that stays green all year. It belongs to Ericaceae, the heath family. Its common name is white Arctic mountain heather. Kew classes its growth form as a subshrub. It comes from cold parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in northern Europe, Russia, Canada, and Alaska. Plants For A Future also lists Montana and Washington. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows on stony or sandy heaths and tundra. These sites often lie in mountains with subarctic conditions.

This low woody plant reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. Its spread is about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. Its small size makes it an option for garden beds. Plants For A Future records blooms from April to May. Each flower has both male and female parts. Insects move pollen from one flower to the next. The supplied species evidence gives no more details on flowers or fruit.

In gardens, it needs soil that drains well but holds some moisture. Sandy and loamy soils suit it, even those with few nutrients. Light shade gives shelter from strong sun. Its needs for lime in soil are less clear. One account calls for soil free of lime. Others say it can cope with lime. One more links the plant with lime-rich ground. These reports clash, so they give no firm rule about lime. Its wild sites can be quite dry. Yet notes on garden care favour some moisture in the soil.

Cold suits this plant more than warm, dry conditions. Plants For A Future says it lives less long in warmer, drier British districts. It does better in the north and west of Britain. The same source says it prefers winters colder than those in southern Britain. Snow cover helps shield it in winter. Reports say it can stand cold to at least 5°F [−15°C]. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 3–7. Layering in August is one recorded way to raise more plants.

Recorded uses include fuel and tinder. People also use it with mosses and lichens to insulate homes. These uses are practical, not for food or medicine. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It also reports no known hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe for people or pets. The source does not flag this species as a weed.