About Erica cerinthoides L.
Erica cerinthoides is a variable species across its distribution, with differences in growth habit, the hairiness of its leaves and flowers, and the color, size, and shape of its flowers. When growing in areas that have not burned, it can become a straggly bush over 1 metre (3+1⁄2 feet) tall, with bare stems except for a few leaves at the tips, and produces very few flowers. In other conditions, it grows as a compact small plant that is completely covered in blooms. Erica cerinthoides is endemic to southern Africa. Its range stretches from the Cedarberg Mountains in the Western Cape through the Eastern Cape, Transkei, and Drakensberg, and also includes Mpumalanga, Lesotho and Eswatini. The northern edge of its range reaches the Soutpansberg in Limpopo province. It can grow in a wide range of habitats, from sea level up to high mountain elevations. It sprouts easily from its woody rootstock after fires, which allows it to grow successfully when other vegetation has been destroyed. Fire appears to stimulate flowering, and bushy, flowering specimens of Erica cerinthoides can often be seen growing against a charred landscape after a fire. For cultivation, Erica cerinthoides needs a full sun location with good drainage and acidic soil. It is sensitive to frost, but can regrow after suffering frost damage. It can be propagated from cuttings taken from the current season’s growth that include a heel of older wood, and can also be grown from seed. In the United Kingdom, it has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
