Ericas
The Ericas number some 650 species within the borders of South Africa. Of these approximately 420 occur in the Southwestern Cape. Plants are quite diverse, ranging in size from large to relatively small, tree or shrublike or sprawling.
Erica bauera
Erica coccinea
Erica peranthoides
Erica versicolor
The Helderberg Nature Reserve has a wide variety of Ericas, and the species which are flowering now are displayed at the kiosk outside the restaurant.
Orange Breasted Sunbird
The orange breasted sunbird is the main pollinator of tube shaped Ericas, and the shape of the flowers is the same as the shape of their beaks. The bright colours attract the pollinators.
The smaller ericas ( usually bell shaped), are pollinated by the wind or by insects.