Epacris longiflora Cav.

Frost tender, erect or spreading, evergreen shrub with ovate, pointed leaves, to 1cm long, and pendant, cylindrical, white-tipped red flowers, produced singly from leaf axils or in terminal spikes to 4cm long, from spring to summer.  To 1.5m.  [RHSE, FNSW, Beadle].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This beautiful Epacris was sent us in blossom, by Mr. Loddiges, in May last; the first time perhaps that it has been seen in Europe.  It seems to be the freest grower of any of the species that we have seen, and may be propagated by layers as well as from seeds.’  [BM t.982/1807].

‘This most elegant plant is a native of NSW: we obtained it from seeds, about the year 1803.  It frequently begins to flower in April, and continues two or three months before it is quite over; during the whole of which time nothing can be more beautiful, especially in a large plant.’  [LBC no.21, 1817]. 

‘All the Epacris are natives of the neighbourhood of New South Wales, and are very handsome shrubby greenhouse plants. […] They nearly all come into flower about the end of March or beginning of April, and continue blooming until June or July, although the present subject flowers most of the winter, as well as spring and summer.’  [MB p.52/1834]. 

Introduced to Britain in 1803.  [JD].  

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.411/1857].  Epacris many species was ticked in a copy of the Horticultural Register, April 1832.  Although this originally belonged to James Bowman, it is likely that species of this genus were grown by Macarthur earlier than 1857.  Probably collected by Macarthur, found on the coast and adjacent plateaus of NSW.  [FNSW, Beadle].

Notes

Published Mar 14, 2009 - 04:46 PM | Last updated Mar 17, 2010 - 03:52 PM


Illustrated are the pointed leaves and pendant, cylindrical, white-tipped red flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.982, 1807.

Epacris longiflora Cav. | BM t.982/1807 | BHL

More details about Epacris longiflora Cav.
Family Epacridaceae
Category
Region of origin

Eastern Australia

Synonyms
  • Epacris grandiflora Willd.
Common Name

Australian heath, Fuschia heath

Name in the Camden Park Record

Epacris grandiflora 

Confidence level high