Wax heath? Erica ventricosa?

[Srt8madness]

Picked up this woody shrub about a month back inside a grocery store. Nice trunk movement, and soft foliage that looks like cryptomeria/immature juniper foliage.

It flowers in a real show, covering itself with these bright pink tubular flowers which are evolved for a particular kind of bird.

Evidently it is found in South Africa.

Has anyone grown these before? Even seen them?

 

[nuttiest]

That is really stunning. I wonder if they can take the night heat of August? It is great to find something like that in a grocery store.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Nice plant!

This plant has similar characteristics to many of the heaths and heathers marketed in the US nurseries in the PacNW. We use these type plants regularly as accents in the landscape, shearing them back after bloom so they do not grow too big, which indeed they will.

As an Ericaceae can likely treat like any azalea successfully. Even can propagate cuttings easily. Only issue to avoid is it looks like the plant doesn’t like frost.

Here’s more information

Cheers
DSD sends