From June to August each year walkers in Fred Caterson Reserve can see a spiky plant with sensational mauve to pink flowers. At any other time of the year no one gives this sprawling, indifferent looking plant a second glance yet to see it in flower is a special treat. This plant is Epacris purpurascens var purpurascens which can be seen in only a few places in the Sydney area. It grows on poorly drained clay soils which have a sandstone base, along creek banks or on clay soils in Eucalypt forest. Because it only grows in a few places it is listed as Vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Act. One spot where you can usually see it is in the gutter beside Caterson Drive which is like a small creek after rain.

The plant can grow to 1.5 metres tall, has spiky leaves and white tubular flowers which are tinged with purple or pink. The botanical name includes the word var. (short for variety) purpurascens (Latin for purple) because there is another variety which is only found in the Blue Mountains which has white flowers.

This plant is one of many species which contribute to the amazing floral diversity found in Fred Caterson Reserve.