Common Yarn Heath

Common yarn heath, also called lantern heath, is an evergreen South African shrublet whose flowers can cover much of the plant. Flower form and color vary across its range, so a single plant may differ from the typical lantern-shaped pink display. ## Form and season The South African National Biodiversity Institute records a usual height of about 2.3–3.3 feet and flowering from autumn into midsummer, with flowers ranging from white through deep pink to magenta red. It grows on southern Cape coastal flats and mountain slopes, often in sandy, acidic soils that stay moist or near seepage areas. ## Siting and care Choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot with deep, well-drained, acidic sandy soil. Keep the root zone moist through summer, especially in warm gardens, while avoiding stagnant water. The shrublet works in a cooler border or container and its long flowering season also supplies stems for cutting. ## Maintenance Prune after flowering to encourage a compact, well-branched plant and more blooms. Avoid disturbing the roots; the species is adapted to nutrient-poor soils, so use modest feeding. See the [SANBI lantern heath account](https://pza.sanbi.org/erica-glomiflora-var-glomiflora) for its regional variation, habitat, and cultivation notes.