About Agapetes serpens (Wight) Sleumer
Agapetes serpens (Wight) Sleumer is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, native to the Himalayas. It is a semi-climbing shrub that reaches 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 in) in height. This plant is cultivated as an ornamental, valued for its shiny evergreen leaves and long-blooming branches of attractive pendulous tubular red flowers. It is grown in warm temperate to sub-tropical climates, and cannot survive prolonged freezing, holding an RHS hardiness rating of H2. It needs a sheltered growing position and grows in acid or neutral soil. The Latin specific epithet serpens translates to "snake-like". This plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
