Daboecia differ from European Erica species in having a substantially larger corolla.

[3] Like Erica and Calluna species, Daboecia are calcifuges, but will tolerate neutral soils and avoid peat.

Some botanists regard D. azorica as a subspecies of D. cantabrica, which would render the genus monospecific.

The two species have been extensively cultivated and hybridised to produce a number of popular garden plants.

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017):[5]