Erica brachialis presents terminal clusters of pale green, bright yellow or pinkish red tubular flowers in autumn. Small leaf-like sepals are found at the base of the flower. The corolla tube ends in four shallow lobes, appearing greenish, especially when they are just opening or in the bud stage. The anthers and the style are only exserted from old flowers.

The shrub reaches about 1 m in height. The stems branch much and generally grow upright. E. brachialis grows in the Western Cape on fynbos slopes.

The plant is used in a tea remedy for dealing with kidney stones. This practice is said to be so common that the plant has been reduced in nature to an endangered level (www.theheatherfarm.com; www.heaths and heathers.com; www.bcx.org).