Browse plants / Fabaceae
Darling pea Swainsona galegifolia
Also called Smooth Darling pea
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, flowering
- September, flowering
- October, flowering
- November, flowering
- December, flowering
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Soft, fast perennial with sprays of pink, purple, red or white pea flowers in spring.
A short-lived, sprawling perennial from eastern Australia with fern-like leaves and long sprays of pea flowers in many colours. Easy and quick from seed. It is toxic to grazing animals.
In the garden
- Leaves
- Soft, divided, fern-like leaves.
- Attracts
- Pollinating insects and butterflies
- Flowers
- Sprays of pea flowers, pink, purple, red or white.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Moderate frost
- Water
- Some dry spells
- Climate
- Subtropical, arid and semi-arid and temperate
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed
Planting
Sun or part shade. Space 50 cm apart.
Pruning
Cut back by half after flowering.
Care
No fertiliser needed: like most peas it fixes its own nitrogen. Water in long dry spells. Short-lived; let it self-seed.
Safety
Poisonous to grazing animals that eat it in quantity. Don't plant where horses or livestock can reach it.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Native to
- New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria
- Natural range
- Grassland and open forest of eastern Australia.
Where to buy
Specialist native nurseries.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Swainsona galegifolia on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.