Ericas

If you think heathers live only on windswept moors, think again. Thriving in the warm summers and mild winters of the Cape are 735 Erica species in astonishing variety.

Their flowers range from the petite to the long and showy, in white, green, yellow, red and mauve. Most are small or medium sized shrubs but Erica caffra grows to a tree-sized 4 metres high.

Look out for:

E. subdivaricata is known for its masses of scented white flowers.
E. verticillata is extinct in the wild, only surviving in cultivation.

Did you know?
During the late 18th and early 19th century, Cape Ericas were extremely popular in England.
Many species were collected by Kew plant-hunter Francis Masson, who sent back vast quantities of seed for propagation.

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