Erica sessiliflora

This South African heath has intriguing, light yellow-green to white, tubular flowers in striking heads and is a rewarding and decorative container plant.
In the wild, it is an upright, woody, densely branched, vigorous shrub growing 1-2 m tall. The branches are covered with upward-pointing, needle-like leaves. This spectacular plant is hard to miss when in flower, which occurs throughout the year (January to December) with a peak from autumn to spring (April to September), though flowering time can vary from place to place.
What sets this species apart from other ericas, and makes it so easy to identify, are the knobbly protrusions on the stems below the current flower heads. These are not fungal or viral infections, but the seed capsules, which remain on the plant for many years and are known as "fruiting heads." The fruiting heads are typically yellow-green and brown, but in one form, they are strikingly dark red. No other Erica shares this characteristic; it is unique to E. sessiliflora. This characteristic is called “serotinous,” meaning it retains its seeds on the shrub for several years. The fruiting bodies can remain on a branch for up to seven years or until the shrub is burned, after which the seeds are released. The smoked seeds fall to the ground and germinate in autumn.
In nature, the plants grow best on flat terrain and lower mountain slopes, in moist areas, especially in seepage areas, or alongside streams, or where a lot of water drains away. This indicates that this species does best in cultivation in areas with high rainfall or where it receives water throughout the year.
In Northern Europe, the plant is not winter-hardy, but with good protection, you can take the risk or pot the plant and overwinter it in a shed or greenhouse without frost. It is a very decorative plant, which also makes an excellent cut flower!
Place the plants in full sun, where there is free air circulation. The soil type should be well-drained, sandy, and slightly acidic. Be careful with fertilizer; feed with well-rotted compost or slow-release organic fertilizers, or a low dose. To increase soil acidity, decomposed pine needles or pine bark can be mixed into the soil. Prune plants regularly; this encourages branching and removes diseased material.

Names:
Latin: Erica sessiliflora
Dutch: Witte Flessenborstelheide
English: Bottle Green Heath