Browse plants / Fabaceae
Cockies tongues Templetonia retusa
Also called Coral bush
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, flowering
- July, flowering
- August, flowering
- September, flowering
- October, flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
Tough coastal shrub with large red pea flowers in winter and spring.
A hardy shrub from limestone coasts of southern Australia, with blue-green, notched leaves. Large red (sometimes pink or cream) pea flowers through winter and spring bring in honeyeaters.
In the garden
- Attracts
- Birds and pollinating insects
- Flowers
- Large red pea flowers, sometimes pink or cream.
- Leaves
- Leathery, blue-green, wedge-shaped leaves with a notched tip.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Soil pH
- Neutral and alkaline
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Very drought tolerant
- Coast
- Exposed to salt spray
- Climate
- Dry summers (Mediterranean) and temperate
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed
Planting
Sun or part shade, including exposed coasts and limestone soils.
Pruning
Trim lightly after flowering to keep it bushy.
Care
No fertiliser needed: like most peas it fixes its own nitrogen. Water in long dry spells.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Native to
- South Australia and Western Australia
- Natural range
- Limestone coasts and nearby inland of southern Western Australia and South 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
- Templetonia retusa 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.