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Dillwynia, Genus, retorta, Species,

Genus & species

heathy parrot pea

Fabaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Dillwynia retorta is an evergreen shrub in the pea family, growing 0.3-2 m (1-6.5 ft) tall and 0.5-1.5 m (1.6-5 ft) wide, native to heath and open woodland of eastern Australia. Its habit ranges from low and spreading to erect depending on the population and site. The narrow leaves are terete, round in cross-section, 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in) long, and characteristically twisted, crowded along wiry stems to give a heath-like texture. From late winter into spring the stems carry dense clusters of small pea flowers, each with a broad yellow upper petal marked orange to red at the centre and a keel that may be red-tipped. Bees and other insects work the flowers, which are followed by short two-valved pods. The species grows on sandy, acidic, low-fertility soils with sharp drainage and tolerates dry spells once rooted. It is sensitive to root disturbance and to heavy, wet soils, which cause sudden collapse, and like many peas it is comparatively short-lived, often persisting only 5-8 years in cultivation before needing replacement.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, mainly coastal and near-coastal New South Wales and southern Queensland, growing in heath, dry sclerophyll forest, and sandstone woodland on sandy or rocky low-nutrient soils.

Suggested Uses

Used in native and habitat gardens, low informal borders, and revegetation of sandy coastal sites. Suits rockeries and embankments with sharp drainage. Spaced 0.6-1 m (2-3 ft) apart in massed plantings.

How to Identify

Told apart by the short terete leaves that are noticeably twisted and crowded on wiry stems, and by the parrot-pea flowers in which the broad upper petal is yellow with an orange to red centre. The keel petal is often red-tipped. Pods are small, swollen, and two-seeded, unlike the flattened pods of many related peas.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 6'7"

Width/Spread1'8" - 4'11"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Flowers: July–October

Winter Spring

Flowers from late winter through spring, roughly July to October, with clustered yellow-and-red pea flowers along the upper stems. A heavy flowering can colour the whole bush for several weeks. Flowering is lighter in shaded positions and on disturbed plants.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow with orange to red centre

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-9 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5 (Acidic to neutral)

3579

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to light shade on sandy or gravelly, sharply drained acidic soil low in nutrients. Water lightly until established, then rely largely on rainfall, as the roots rot in soils that stay wet. Use little or no phosphorus, which damages members of the pea family adapted to lean soils. A light trim after flowering keeps the bush dense. Root disturbance and transplanting of advanced plants often cause collapse, so set out small, container-grown stock. Expect a useful life of several years before replacement.

Pruning

Tip prune lightly straight after flowering to maintain a compact, leafy habit and to remove spent flower clusters. Cutting back into old bare wood reshoots unreliably and is generally unsuccessful. Hard renovation rarely works, so replace woody, sparse plants instead.

Pruning Schedule

Prune: October–November

spring