Erica sessiliflora aka Erica Sessiliflora

Erica sessiliflora comes from South Africa’s Cape region. This shrub is part of the heath family, Ericaceae. People call it green heath or white bottlebrush heath. It is evergreen, so it keeps its leaves all year. It grows upright, with a bushy shape, as the RHS notes. It needs a mild site or the shelter of a greenhouse.

In gardens, it grows about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall. It spreads about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] wide. The RHS also notes plants around 6.6 feet [2 metres] tall. The shrub takes 10–20 years to reach full size. Its thin leaves look like needles. They may point up or spread out from the stems. The leaves give the garden year-round interest. Its tall, slim shape suits spots with little room to spread.

Dense groups of tube-shaped flowers bloom from late winter into spring. The flowers are greenish-white. Once the blooms fade, the sepals grow and shield the seeds. These parts form groups of fruit in red or greenish-yellow shades. The groups then turn brown and stay for several years. The blooms and old fruit give interest at different times. The fruit adds value long past the time of bloom.

Grow this heath in full sun, in a sheltered spot. The RHS advises a site that faces south or west. It needs acid soil that stays moist but drains well. Sand-based soil and loam both suit it. Do not let too much water sit round the roots. The RHS gives it a cold rating of H2. It can cope with cold, but it cannot survive a freeze. Grow it outdoors in mild areas, not where frosts occur. Elsewhere, keep it in a greenhouse with no heat. Keep the compost moist. Use lime-free potting compost, with sharp sand to help it drain.

The RHS suggests this shrub for gardens by the coast. It also lists courtyards and gardens with a Mediterranean style. Patios and pots are other uses it gives. Take semi-ripe cuttings in mid- to late summer. Pests rarely cause harm, but fungi can cause disease. Wet soil can lead to Phytophthora root rot. Honey fungus may cause harm too, though the RHS calls it rare. The supplied evidence gives no facts on food uses. It does not state whether the plant is toxic.