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Bossiaea cinerea

showy bossiaea

Fabaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Bossiaea cinerea is an evergreen shrub with erect, slender branches reaching 1-5 feet (0.3-1.5 m) tall. Leaves are ovate to broadly lance-shaped, 0.2-0.8 inch (0.5-2 cm) long, grey-green and softly hairy, arranged alternately along the stems. Pea-shaped flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (1-1.5 cm) across appear singly in the leaf axils, with a yellow standard petal marked red-brown at the center and a dark reddish keel. Flowering occurs through spring. Flat, oblong seed pods 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) long follow, ripening brown and splitting to release seed. Growth is moderate, and as a legume the species fixes nitrogen through root nodules, letting it grow on low-fertility soils. Plants are relatively short-lived, declining after 6-10 years, and tend to become open and woody at the base with age.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, occurring in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heathland on sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils at low to moderate elevations.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native, coastal, and low-water gardens, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Pea flowers attract native bees and other insects. The short lifespan and tendency to open out with age limit its use as a permanent structural shrub.

How to Identify

Distinguished by grey-green, softly hairy ovate leaves 0.2-0.8 inch (0.5-2 cm) long and solitary yellow pea flowers with red-brown central markings borne in the leaf axils. Branches are erect and slender. Differs from Bossiaea heterophylla by its flattened rather than winged stems and consistently small leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Flowers through spring, August through November in its native range, with peak bloom in September and October. Flowering lasts 5-7 weeks. Bloom is heavier in open, sunny positions and sparser in shade.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow with red-brown markings

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years to flowering

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soils. Water through the first growing season; established plants tolerate extended dry periods. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it grows without supplementary feeding, and phosphorus fertilizer can damage the roots. Plants are short-lived, often declining after 6-10 years, and are usually replaced rather than rejuvenated. Seed germinates more readily after heat or smoke treatment, reflecting its fire-adapted habitat.

Pruning

Light pruning after flowering keeps the shrub compact and delays the open, woody habit of older plants. Tip pruning of young growth encourages denser branching. Hard pruning into old wood often fails to reshoot.

Pruning Schedule

spring