A rounded, compact cultivar of Atlantic white cedar, 'Heatherbun' brings the species' tolerance for wet, acidic soil into a tidy garden-scale form — ultimately 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, with a growth rate slow enough to make it a long-term companion rather than a plant to be managed. Its juvenile foliage, a persistent pale blue-green, gives the shrub a soft, slightly fuzzy texture through the warmer months. But the real distinction of 'Heatherbun' is what happens in the cold season: as temperatures drop, the foliage deepens to a warm, heathery plum-purple that earns the cultivar its name and gives the winter garden a color note most conifers simply cannot provide.

Siting 'Heatherbun' where it catches winter light will bring out the purple tones most fully. Full sun encourages the best color development in both seasons; partial shade is tolerated but the seasonal shifts become more muted. It requires acidic soil and consistently moist conditions, though it will accept occasional waterlogging — a useful quality on sites with variable drainage. Shelter it from heavy snow loads, which can split the rounded form. As a specimen at the corner of a foundation planting, or grouped with other winter-interest shrubs, it rewards the gardener who plans for the season most gardens neglect. Zones 4–8.