Epacris Species, Common Heath, Native Heath, Pink Heath

This lovely little shrub is the floral emblem of the state of Victoria in Australia. It is a common plant in heaths and open forest in th...Read Moree south-eastern states. Pink Heath flowers most strongly in the late autumn and early winter, but flowers can be seen in any month of the year. The flowers are quite varied in colour, ranging from white to pink to red, with a beautiful coral-red variety in the extreme east of Victoria. The name 'impressa', refers to five little hollows around the base of each tubular flower, which distinguish this species from several other Epacris species. It is an attractive plant to grow in the garden, possibly in a rockery. Propagation is usually from cuttings of firm seasons growth, but it can be grown from seed. Seed is shed quite quickly when ripe and I have found it hard to collect seed.