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Daviesia leptophylla

narrow-leaf bitter-pea

Fabaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Daviesia leptophylla is an upright evergreen shrub of the pea family, native to southeastern Australia. It grows 1.5-8 feet (0.5-2.5 m) tall and 1.5-5 feet (0.5-1.5 m) wide, with slender, wiry branches. In place of broad leaves it carries narrow, needle-like phyllodes up to 2 inches (5 cm) long that end in a sharp point, giving the shrub a narrow, prickly look. In spring it bears many small pea flowers clustered in the phyllode axils, yellow to orange with reddish-brown markings in the centre. These are followed by flattened, triangular pods, each holding one or two seeds. As a legume it fixes nitrogen through root nodules and grows in nutrient-poor soils where many shrubs falter. It is found in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland on well-drained, often gravelly soils. The foliage tastes bitter, the source of the bitter-pea name, and the pointed phyllodes can prick bare skin. It tolerates drought and light frost once established but is short-lived and tends to become open and woody with age.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, occurring in Victoria, New South Wales, southern Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland on well-drained, often gravelly or sandy soils.

Suggested Uses

Daviesia leptophylla is used in native and habitat gardens, on dry banks, and in bushland plantings, where its spring flowers and tolerance of poor soils suit low-water designs. It supports native bees and other pollinators and adds nitrogen to soils in revegetation. The prickly phyllodes give shelter to small birds.

How to Identify

Recognised by its slender, sharply pointed phyllodes up to 2 inches (5 cm) long and its clusters of small yellow-and-orange pea flowers with reddish-brown centres. The flattened, triangular pods are typical of the genus Daviesia spp.. The narrow, terete phyllodes separate it from broader-leaved bitter-peas, and the foliage tastes bitter.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 8'

Width/Spread1'6" - 5'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in spring, mainly August to November, when clusters of pea flowers open along the stems. The display lasts several weeks and draws native bees and other insects. Flattened triangular pods ripen and split through late spring and summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Yellow to orange with reddish-brown markings

Foliage Description

Green to grey-green phyllodes

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 loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Daviesia leptophylla grows in full sun to light shade in free-draining sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils and tolerates low fertility through its nitrogen-fixing roots. Once established it needs little water and withstands drought and light frost. Heavy, wet, or rich soils shorten its life and can cause root rot. As a legume it is sensitive to high-phosphorus fertilisers, which can damage the roots, so lean conditions suit it. It can be raised from scarified or heat-treated seed, in keeping with its fire-adapted germination in the wild. Plants are naturally short-lived and are usually replaced every several years.

Pruning

A light tip prune after flowering keeps the shrub bushy and slows its tendency to open out with age. Hard pruning into old, leafless wood is risky, as the shrub may not reshoot. Spent pods can be left to split and shed seed.