Epacris longiflora Cav.

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