Tough, lovely Erica mammosa is no ordinary shrub

I will admit, I've avoided writing about ericas because they are such a large and diverse genus but eventually their loveliness won me over. This group of heaths comprises more than 700 species of prostrate to tree-like evergreen shrubs that are found in a variety of habitats in Europe, temperate Africa, as well as western and southern Asia. One particularly tough and attractive species is Erica mammosa.

Known in England as nine-pin heath, this slow-growing, long-lived, robust, well-branched shrub can reach 5 feet high and 6 feet wide. It clothes itself in small dark-green linear leaves, arranged in whorls of four to six.

What makes this South African species particularly interesting is that it boasts one of the broadest range of flower colors in the genus. The 1/2- to 1-inch tubular flowers - borne in dense, spike-like inflorescences up to 10 inches in length at the tips of main branches - range from orange-red, purple, dark red, greenish-cream and white, to various shades of pink. These bright flowers (some almost seem as if they're lit from the inside) can be found throughout the year, but are concentrated in the fall and winter periods.

Ericas are multipurpose shrubs. They're wonderful winter companions to other cool-season, drought-tolerant blooming shrubs such as correas, grevilleas and verticordias. They work well in a mixed bed, adding bright green textures and a splash of color to sunny beds. Low-growing species provide a verdant contrast to succulents in a dry garden plot, and they can even be used as a shrub border. Smaller species can be grown in pots to showcase their winter display.

Erle Nickel is a nurseryman, gardening writer and photographer who cares for a sprawling Oakland garden. E-mail comments to home@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page L - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle