Pink Swamp-Heath

~ Sprengelia incarnata ~

ERICACEAE

The Pink Swamp-Heath lives along the country’s south-east coastline and is also a prolific Tassie resident, adding its pink stars and reddish gangly stems to that unique and magical landscape. Sprengelia is a small genus containing only four species, all of which are endemic to eastern Australia. It belongs to the Ericaceae family, home of the blueberries and cranberries of the world.

WHERE TO LOOK

These swampy friends can be found throughout the temperate south-east and are most prominent in the damp and sandy heathlands of lutruwita (Tasmania). It can be generally found in the company of Melaleucas, Hakeas, Banksias, Lomandras and Isopogons.

Locations → NSW: Budderoo National Park and Blue Mountains National Park; Victoria: Anglesea Heath; Tasmania: Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area and Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.

FEATURES

This shrub grows between 50cm and 2m high and features pink star-shaped flowers in clusters of 3 to 20 on top of smooth reddish-brown spindly stems that age to a grey-brown. The individual flowers are around 1cm across and have white and pink petals that create a pale-pink hue. The leaves can be seen wrapped around the stem and overlapping each other (aka sheathing).

FLOWERING SEASON

Winter and spring → Blooms can be seen from June to the end of spring, sometimes extending into December.

PLANTING

Pink Swamp-Heath is used to those cool, moist Tasmanian conditions, so plant it in the shade in well-draining soil and never let it dry out. Plants can be found in specialty nurseries or propagated by cuttings of firm new growth.