Data sources

Macdonald Heath

Erica turgida

Animal-friendly

Supports bees

Tolerances & suitability

Good potplant

Growth features

Easy to grow

Social features

Attractive

Aspect

Sun

Plant types

Shrub

Soils

Soil: sandy

Flowering

pink

Dec

It produces numerous small urn- or cup-shaped, pink flowers, which are clustered at the ends of short branchlets. The flowers are only about 3 mm long and slightly constricted at the mouth from which the anthers protrude. The overall effect is a petite plant that is rather attractive when in flower in early summer (November and December).

Propagation by seed

Seed is sown in autumn in a sandy, well-drained soil mixture. The seed is pre-treated with smoke to optimize germination, although smoke treatment is not a prerequisite. Seedlings appear after a few weeks and should be carefully nurtured until they are about 10 mm tall and ready for transplanting into individual containers. Keep pinching out the terminal shoots as this will result in branching and a more bushy plant.

Propagation by cutting

Cuttings are taken in autumn or spring to early summer, from actively growing shoots preferably as heel cuttings. A heel cutting is a side shoot that is removed from the main stem while retaining a part of that stem. Cuttings are placed in a fine bark mix in special propagation units with heated benches and overhead misters. Rooting takes place in a few weeks.

Fynbos Corridor Collaboration