Attractive Garden Plant: There are two leaf forms– one dark green and the other greyer – but both produce nectar-rich crimson flowers. It is usually the first to flower immediately after rain. It can die back in dry times and reshoot from dead’ branches after good rains. It grows to 1.5m in a range of mulga-dominated habitats or on rocky hill slopes. It is widespread and common across inland Australia.
Medicinal: Arrernte people use the juice from leaves as a rubbing medicine or in a solution to treat flu symptoms, headaches and infections. Fresh stems are also used to treat toothache, and the nectar from flowers is eaten to treat sore throats.