Erica, the heaths or heathers, is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names “heath” and “heather” are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance. Most of the species are small shrubs from 20-150cm high, though some are taller. All are evergreen, with minute needle-like leaves 2-15 mm long. Flowers are usually outward or downward facing and are borne in mass. The plants are grown as landscape or garden plants for their floral effect. At least 660 of the species are endemic to South Africa, and these are often called the Cape heaths, forming the largest genus in the fynbos. The remaining species are native to other parts of Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean region, and Europe.

Erica sessiliflora, synonymously known as Erica clavaeflora, Erica sceptriformis, Erica sessiliflora var. clavaeflora, Erica sessiliflora var. oblanceolata or Erica sessiliflora var. sceptriformis and commonly known as Green Heath or White Bottlebrush-heath in English and Groenheide in Afrikaans, is a South African endemic species. Erica sessiliflora has intriguing, pale yellowish green, tube-shaped flowers in showy heads and is a rewarding and decorative garden plant. Erica sessiliflora is an erect, woody, densely branched, strong-growing shrub, 1-2 m high. The branches are covered in upward-pointing, needle-like leaves. The flowers are pale yellowish green, tubular, 16-30 mm long and curving downward, and are arranged in dense spikes towards the tips of main branches. This spectacular plant is hard to miss when in flower, which takes place all year round (January to December) with a peak during autumn to spring (April to September), although flowering time may vary from locality to locality.