Daviesia latifolia
hop bitter-pea
Overview
Daviesia latifolia is an evergreen shrub in the pea family reaching 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall, with an upright, open habit. Leaves are broad, oval to lance-shaped, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, leathery, dull green to grey-green, and conspicuously net-veined, with a bitter taste. Pea flowers 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) across appear in branched sprays along the upper stems in spring, with a yellow to orange standard petal marked with red-brown and a dark keel. Flowers are followed by flattened triangular pods about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long, each holding one or two seeds. Growth is moderate, with plants flowering within 2-3 years of seeding. The species is short-lived, often declining after 6-10 years, and the open habit can become straggly without pruning.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and scrub on well-drained sandy and gravelly soils, from the lowlands to the foothills.Suggested Uses
Grown in native and habitat gardens and mixed shrub borders, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart, where the spring flowers feed native bees and insects. The open form suits informal and woodland-style plantings. The short lifespan limits its use as a long-term structural shrub.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly September to November. Peak bloom lasts about 4-6 weeks, when branched sprays of yellow-orange flowers line the upper stems. Warm, sheltered sites flower earlier than cool or exposed ones. A dry winter can reduce flowering.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow-orange with red-brown markingsFoliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 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 well-drained sandy or gravelly soil in full sun to part shade; it does not tolerate wet, heavy ground. Water through the first one to two seasons to establish; mature plants withstand dry spells with little extra water. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and seldom needs fertiliser, and phosphorus-rich feeds can damage the roots. Root-rot fungi cause dieback in poorly drained soils. The species is short-lived and tends to open out at the base with age.Pruning
Tip-prune after flowering to keep a denser, more compact shape. Plants tolerate removal of up to one-third of the recent growth. Hard cutting into bare old wood often fails to reshoot. Light annual trimming slows the development of a straggly habit.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons