Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Erica abietina L. ssp. abietina

There is no record of a plant called Erica abietina in the Camden Park historical record. Erica abietina L. ssp. abietina is included in the Hortus as the plant grown by Macarthur under the name Erica coccinea may be Erica abietina. See Horticultural & Botanical History below and Erica coccinea L. for further explanation.
Erica abietina is a sturdy, dense shrub with a single, freely-branching woody stem, the mid to upper branches clothed with a dense arrangement of green, needle-like leaves. The flowers are clustered near the ends of the branches and are bright red, tubular, curved and flared at the mouth. Flowers are produced from midsummer to midwinter but appear occasionally throughout the year. To 1.5m. [http://www.plantzafrica.com].

 

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This [Erica coccinea], like so many other kinds, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is said to have been introduced in 1783 to the Kew Garden.  It flowers at various seasons, continuing long, and is a fine species.  It must be kept in an airy greenhouse, potted in sandy peat earth, and will increase by cuttings.  The discoveries making throughout the world prove the number of plants to be inconceivable.  A general collection is no longer possible; but much might be done if lovers of Botany would each chuse [sic] a class, an order, a tribe, or even a single genus, according to the taste and convenience of each - procure all that is practicable of its species - and cultivate them in the best style of excellence.’  [LBC no.1375/1829]. 

 

History at Camden Park

Erica coccinea was listed in the 1843, 1845 and 1850 catalogues and marked with a ‘c’, indicating grown at Camden, in a copy of Loddiges’ 1836 catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].

 

Notes

I am grateful to Alice Notten and Ted Oliver of the Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, South Africa for correctly identifying the figures of Erica coccinea in the Botanical Cabinet and Andrews’ Heaths and providing historical data on this plant and Erica abietina.

 

 

Published Jan 09, 2009 - 02:03 PM | Last updated Aug 31, 2011 - 01:41 PM

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The image shows a heath with terminal clusters of bright red, tubular flowers. Loddiges Botanical Cabinet no.1375, 1829.

Erica abietina L. ssp. abietina | LBC no.1375/1829 as Erica coccinea | RBGS

 

Family Ericaceae
Category
Region of origin

South Africa
Synonyms
  • Erica coccinea P.J.Bergius
  • Erica sanguinea Lodd.
  • Erica spissifolia Salisb.
  • Ericoides abietinum (L.) Kuntze

 
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Erica coccinea 

 
Confidence level medium