This subspecies has a very restricted range, and is restricted to a specialized habitat on mountain summits, where it is extremely rare. Two plants are known to occur on the summit of Hangklip, although they could not be found during recent surveys. On the Kogelberg, only a few plants were last recorded in 1978, and no plants could be found when this mountain was last surveyed, and it is estimated that there are no more than 10 mature individuals. Plants were recorded to be occasional on the upper ridges of the Buffelstalberg in 1987, and about 40 plants were recorded on Betty's Bay Peak in 2008. The number of plants on the Voorberg, where this subspecies was last recorded in 1975, is not known. As most of this subspecies' habitat is well protected, it is not suspected to be declining, but the population is estimated to be very small, numbering fewer than 250 mature individuals.

Baker, H.A. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1967. Ericas in southern Africa. Purnell, Cape Town & Johannesburg.

Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.

Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.

Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Oliver, E.G.H. and Oliver, I.M. 2002. The genus Erica (Ericaceae) in southern Africa: taxonomic notes 1. Bothalia 32(1):37-61.

Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Schumann, D., Kirsten, G. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1992. Ericas of South Africa. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.