Dillwynia retorta
heathy parrot pea
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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 6'7"
Width/Spread1'8" - 4'11"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
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 centreFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
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
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons