Translate this page:
Summary
Physical Characteristics
Erica cerinthoides is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
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].
References More on Edible Uses
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
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
Read More
Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
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].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
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].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Adiantum pedatum | Northern Maidenhair,American Maidenhair Fern | Fern | 0.5 |
4-9
| S | LMH | S | M | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Agave americana | Agave, American century plant | Perennial | 7.5 |
8-11
| S | LM | N | DM | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Alisma plantago-aquatica | Great Water Plantain, ZE-XIE, European water plantain, American water plantain, Northern water plan | Perennial | 0.9 |
5-9
| | LMH | N | WeWa | 1 | 3 | |
| Alnus viridis crispa | American Green Alder | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | MH | SN | MWe | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Ammophila breviligulata | Beach Grass, American beachgrass | Perennial | 1.3 |
4-8
| | LM | N | DM | 0 | 0 | |
| Amphicarpaea bracteata | Hog Peanut, American hogpeanut | Perennial Climber | 1.5 |
4-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Andromeda glaucophylla | Bog Rosemary | Shrub | 0.6 |
-
| | LM | S | MWe | 2 | 0 | |
| Andromeda polifolia | Marsh Andromeda, Bog rosemary | Shrub | 0.3 |
2-6
| S | LM | S | MWe | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Apios americana | Ground Nut | Perennial | 1.2 |
3-9
| | LM | SN | M | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Aralia racemosa | American Spikenard | Perennial | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | FS | M | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Aralia spinosa | Hercule's Club, Aralia spinosa, American Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club, Devil's Walking Stick | Tree | 9.0 |
5-9
| S | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Arbutus andrachne | Grecian StrawberryTree | Tree | 6.0 |
7-10
| S | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Maderone | Tree | 15.0 |
5-9
| S | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Arbutus canariensis | Canary Madrona | Tree | 10.0 |
7-10
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Arbutus menziesii | Madrona, Pacific madrone, Pacific Madrone | Tree | 15.0 |
8-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Arbutus texana | Texas Madrone | Tree | 8.0 |
7-10
| S | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Arbutus unedo | Strawberry Tree | Tree | 9.0 |
7-11
| M | LM | SN | DM | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Arbutus x andrachnoides | | Tree | 10.0 |
7-10
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 0 | |
| Arbutus xalapensis | Madrono, Texas madrone | Tree | 12.0 |
7-10
| S | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Arctostaphylos alpina | Alpine Bearberry | Shrub | 0.1 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Arctostaphylos columbiana | Hairy Manzanita | Shrub | 1.5 |
6-9
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Arctostaphylos glauca | Bigberry Manzanita | Shrub | 4.0 |
7-10
| | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Arctostaphylos manzanita | Manzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof's manzanita, Wieslan | Shrub | 2.0 |
7-10
| | LM | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Arctostaphylos nevadensis | Pine-Mat Manzanita | Shrub | 0.1 |
5-9
| M | LM | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Arctostaphylos parryana | Parry Manzanita | Shrub | 1.8 |
-
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Arctostaphylos patula | Greenleaf Manzanita | Shrub | 2.0 |
5-9
| | LM | SN | M | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Arctostaphylos pungens | Pointleaf Manzanita | Shrub | 0.0 |
-
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Arctostaphylos stanfordiana | Stanford's manzanita, Rincon manzanita | Shrub | 1.5 |
5-9
| | LM | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Arctostaphylos tomentosa | Downy Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita, Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, San | Shrub | 1.5 |
7-10
| | LM | SN | M | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Bearberry | Shrub | 0.1 |
4-8
| M | LM | FSN | M | 3 | 4 | 4 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
New Responsive 2
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
