Annuals > Swainsona > Swainsona formosa > Swainsona formosa
Swainsona formosa
Desert Pea, Glory Pea
Origin: Southern Australia.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Swainsona formosa is South Australia's "State Flower".
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Papilionaceae |
| Genus |
| Swainsona |
| Species |
| formosa |
| Category |
| Annuals |
| Type |
| Vine |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 12 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season preotection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1b |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 13 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 53 |
| Height |
| 0.5 m |
| Spread |
| 2 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| As a creeping vine on screens or in hedges, as a potted patio plant, ground cover in dry gardens or as a specimen. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant in dry, well-draining sandy, limestone or clay soils under full sun. |
| Shape |
| Low spreading. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| A creeping annual vine. |
| Pests |
| None known. |
| Habitat |
| Dry plains and along cliff edges. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Smooth vines. |
| Leaf Description |
| Ovate oppositely-arranged leaves about 2 cm in length and 0.5 - 1 cm in width that grow along vines. |
| Flower Description |
| Intervals of 6 - 7 showy, variegated snapdragon-like inflorescences. |
| Colour Description |
| Silvery green foliage and lighter green stems. Showy crimson red flowers with deep purplish-black centres. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Australia. |
| Propagation |
| Seed, cuttings and micropropagation. |
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