Erica cerinthoides Fire Heath PFAF Plant Database

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Erica cerinthoides - L.

Common Name

Fire Heath

Family

Ericaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Dry flats and in the mountains[260].

Range

S. Africa from the Cape to northern Transvaal and Swaziland.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Erica cerinthoides is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
It is hardy to zone 10. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from May to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.


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Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Nectar. Edible Uses: The flowers are sucked for their abundant sweet nectar[177, 183].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
Fire retardant. The plant is fire-resistant.

Cultivation details

Requires a light lime-free loam[1]. A calcifuge plant, requiring a pH below 6[186]. Grows best in a poor soil[11]. Prefers an open situation[1]. This species is unlikely to be hardy in Britain. One report suggests that it can be grown in the milder areas[1], but another says that it is not frost-tolerant[200]. In the wild the plant is often burnt down in fires, resprouting from the base[260]. Indeed, this regular burning keeps the plant healthy and, in cultivation, it is advisable to prune the plant back hard each year and to dress it with a light dressing of bonfire soil[260]. A good bee plant[108]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a sandy compost in a cold frame in spring. Keep moist. Prick out the plants as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them in their permanent positions when they are 5 - 8cm tall[11]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm long taken from twiggy lateral growths near the base of the plant, July/August in a frame. Remove the leaves from the bottom part of the stem without causing any damage to the bark. The cuttings root in a few weeks if they are given some bottom heat. Plant out in spring[11]. Layering in spring or autumn. Plants can be 'dropped' and then dug up and divided about 6 - 12 months later. Dropping involves digging up the plant and then replanting it about 15 - 20cm deeper in the soil to encourage roots to form along the stems[78].

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References

Links / References

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[108]International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees.

The title says it all.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[186]Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs.

An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[260]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Helen Wilson	Mon Aug 24 2009

Am looking for Erica "Colouras" or "Coloras"

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