Roger and Pat de la Harpe Photography and Africa Imagery Photo Library

The Erica genus consists of some 860 species of plants, about 690 of which are endemic to South Africa and are sometimes called Cape heaths. Most species in this genus take the form of small shrubs between about 20 and 150cm tall, although there are some that reach 7m. All are evergreen and have small, needle-like leaves.

The flowers of the Erica densifolia plants may vary in colour from pinkish-red to orange-red and flowering occurs in all seasons except winter. This species grows on the Swartberg, Outeniqua, Langeberg and other mountains of the Southern Cape.