Botanical name

Erica cerinthoides var. cerinthoides

Family

Ericaceae

Common Name

Rooihaartjie, Fire Heath
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides
Erica cerinthoides  var. cerinthoides

Description

Compact shrublet up to 30cm or sometimes up to 1.2m, with a persistent a rootstock enabling it to resprout after fire when it is characteristically seen in bloom. Leaves are 6-16mm long, arranged in fours; flowers are large, hairy, bright red, tubular, inflated and 25-35mm long and arranged in tightly packed clusters.

Latin: cera = wax, cerintha = plant beloved by bees, wax flower

Habitat

Sandy coastal flats and slopes

Flower Date

January to December especially after fire