Bossiaea heterophylla
variable bossiaea
Overview
Bossiaea heterophylla is an erect to scrambling evergreen shrub in the pea family, reaching 3-6.5 feet (0.9-2 m) tall on slender, often flattened green stems. As the species name suggests, leaf shape varies along the stems: lower and younger leaves are broad and rounded to heart-shaped, 0.2-0.6 inches (5-15 mm) long, while upper leaves are narrow and lance-shaped. The green stems carry out photosynthesis, and leaves may be sparse on older growth. Pea-shaped flowers 0.4-0.6 inches (10-15 mm) wide appear singly along the upper branches, with yellow to orange standard petals marked red-brown at the centre and a dark red keel. Flowering runs from autumn through spring. Flat oblong seed pods 0.6-1.2 inches (15-30 mm) long follow, ripening brown and splitting to release hard seeds. Growth is moderately fast on disturbed sites, and as a legume the roots fix nitrogen through root-nodule bacteria. The open, sometimes straggling habit becomes woody and bare at the base with age.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia along the coast and adjacent ranges of New South Wales and southern Queensland. Grows in heath, dry sclerophyll woodland, and coastal scrub, usually on sandy, low-nutrient soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in native, heath, and habitat gardens and on sandy banks for soil stabilisation, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart. The flowers draw native bees and other insects. It suits low-nutrient sites where many garden plants struggle, though its open habit gives limited screening.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'6"
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly from autumn to spring, roughly March to October in its native range, with peak display in late winter and early spring. Individual flowers last about a week, and a plant carries bloom over 6-10 weeks. Warmer coastal sites begin flowering earlier than inland populations.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to orange with red-brown markingsFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade on sandy or gravelly soils with free drainage. Water through the first year to establish, after which plants tolerate dry spells of several weeks. Soils should be low in phosphorus, as members of the pea family from Australian heaths can be damaged by phosphate fertilisers. Nitrogen fixation through root nodules allows growth on poor soils without feeding. Root rot occurs in heavy or waterlogged ground. Plants are short-lived, often declining after 8-12 years, and are renewed from seed.Pruning
Light pruning after flowering reduces legginess and prolongs the useful life of the plant. Cutting back into old bare wood often fails to reshoot, so pruning is kept to younger growth. Spent pods can be removed to limit self-seeding.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons