Erica glauca belongs to the Eurystegia group of Erica species characterised by stem tip flowers with large coloured sepals and bracts around large corollas that hide their anthers within.

E. glauca var. elegans is showy and more widespread than E. glauca var. glauca that is restricted to the upper fynbos slopes around Ceres. E. glauca var. elegans is found from Elgin to Tulbagh and Piketberg, particularly abundant around Bainskloof on lower slopes where the photos shown here were taken during October.

The plant is a robust, erect shrub growing to 1,8 m (Baker and Oliver, 1967; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).