[1] It is a member of the Fabaceae and occurs naturally in the Afrotemperate mist-belt of South Africa and Eswatini to the uplands of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and adjacent Botswana.

[3] In Zimbabwe its range overlaps with the similar Erythrina abyssinica.

The foliage is soft and initially woolly in texture, with some prickles and prominently raised venation below.

[3][2] Their scarlet flowers with red, densely velvety calyxes may appear from winter to early summer,[2] usually before new foliage is produced.

The fruit is a cylindrical articulated pod, bearing orange to red seeds with a black spot.