PlantSale Plant care guide

Sturt's Desert Pea

Swainsona formosa · Fabaceae

An iconic arid-zone trailing annual bearing spectacular blood-red pea flowers with a glossy black boss over silvery foliage. A challenging but breathtaking wildflower and floral emblem of South Australia.

At a glance

Habit: Annual
Light: Full Sun
Water: Drought-Tolerant
Soil: Sandy Soil, Well-Drained, Poor / Infertile Soil
Climate: Arid & Semi-Arid, Mediterranean, Warm Temperate
Frost: Frost-Tender
Mature size: 0.3 m H × 1.5 m W
Foliage: Silver / Grey Foliage
Flowering: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering
Growth rate: Fast-Growing
Maintenance: Low Maintenance

Good for

Pots & Containers
Feature / Specimen
Water-Wise
Rare / Collector

Sowing from seed

Difficulty: advanced
Sowing depth: 5 mm
Method: Raise in trays and transplant
Pre-treatment: scarification
Germination: 7-21 days
Best sown in: spring, autumn
Seed storage life: 5 years