Erica versicolor is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to South Africa's Cape Province.
In cultivation E. versicolor requires well-drained acidic soil and a sheltered situation in full sun. It cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[1]
Erica versicolor is an evergreen shrub growing to 3m (10feet) tall by 1m (03feet) broad, bearing tiny needle-like leaves and long tubular flowers up to 3cm (01inches) in length. The flowers have a two-tone appearance, predominantly red with green or yellow tips (hence the Latin specific epithet versicolor), and bloom from October until April. The leaves are trifoliate, smooth, and a deep green. The branches of the plant are nearly simple.[2]