It is an adaptable species, growing in a wide range of soils derived from sandstones, quartzites, granites, shales and limestones.

The plant adapts to a wide range of altitudes, being found from coastal dunes to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) high mountains.

[2] It is often found in clumps of hundreds, under the shelter of other shrubs on flat land, or in shady ravines and rock crevices.

The leaves are elliptic to broadly shaped, 25–210 mm wide, most often more-or-less barred with red or dark green on the underside; they may also be prostrate, recurved or stand suberect.

In cultivation in the UK, H. coccineus has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.