Throughout its range the species shows marked variation in habit, flower characteristics and hairiness.

A form with white flowers is found in Eswatini and the South African province of Mpumalanga while the variety E. cerinthoides var.

Where it remains unburnt it can be a straggly bush over 1 metre (3+1⁄2 feet) tall, bare of leaves apart from a few extremities, and producing few flowers.

It sprouts readily from the woody rootstock after fires which enables it to thrive when other vegetation is destroyed.

[2] E. cerinthoides requires a position in full sun with good drainage, and acidic soil.