Purple Coral Pea

A scrambler and climber with purple pea-flowers and lance shaped leaves. A widespread and common species in our dry forests, where it grows with fine form and scrambles across the ground and among plants of the understory.

Widely cultivated and popular, there are many different cultivars of this species, with flowers ranging from white to pink, and form ranging from vigorous climbers to prostrate sub-shrubs. Our local form has deep purple flowers and is less vigorous and requires less pruning than some of the nursery cultivars; however it can be difficult to sustain in over fertile garden soils. This is an important food plant for native bees. Drought, and fairly frost and shade tolerant, a great plant for tricky parts of the garden. Can be pruned back hard after flowering to retain vigour or to rejuvenate. Sensitive to phosphorous, so use low-phosphorous fertilisers.