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Adesmia spp.
Overview
Adesmia spp. is a genus of around 240 species of herbs, shrubs, and cushion-forming plants in the pea family, native to South America, with its greatest diversity in the Andes and Patagonia. Habit ranges widely, from low alpine cushions a few centimetres high to upright shrubs 0.2-2 m (0.7-6.5 ft) tall, some armed with spines formed from hardened leaf stalks. The pinnate leaves carry many small leaflets, and the pea-shaped flowers are usually yellow, sometimes orange or marked with red, borne singly or in racemes. Unlike most legumes, the seed pod is a loment that breaks into one-seeded segments at maturity. Species grow in dry steppe, rocky slopes, high-altitude scrub, and coastal sites, often on poor, stony soils in harsh climates. Many fix nitrogen through root nodules. The genus is little known in cultivation outside its native range and includes both spiny and cushion forms suited to specialised rock and alpine gardens. Species such as A. boronioides are used locally.
Native Range
Adesmia spp. is native to South America, ranging through the Andes from Peru and Bolivia to Chile and Argentina, and across the Patagonian steppe. Species grow in dry mountain scrub, steppe, rocky slopes, and coastal sites.Suggested Uses
Adesmia spp. is grown mainly by alpine and rock-garden specialists, in troughs, scree beds, and gravel gardens with sharp drainage. The cushion species suit alpine houses and raised beds in cool climates. In native steppe the plants stabilise soil and support insects and grazing wildlife.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 6'6"
Width/Spread1' - 4'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Adesmia spp. grows in full sun on sharply drained gravelly, sandy, or rocky soils that are low in fertility. Established plants tolerate cold, wind, and drought, reflecting their harsh native habitats, and decline in rich, wet, or poorly drained ground. A soil pH around 6.0-7.5 suits most species. Alpine and cushion species need cool roots and free-draining grit, while shrubby species accept warmer, drier sites. Plants resent humidity and root disturbance. Growth is generally slow.Pruning
Pruning is rarely needed. A light trim after flowering tidies shrubby species, while cushion and alpine forms are left unpruned. Dead or damaged stems are removed in spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons