Gompholobium latifolium
golden glory pea
Overview
Gompholobium latifolium is an evergreen shrub reaching 3-8 feet (0.9-2.5 m) tall and 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) wide, with an open, upright habit and slender green stems. Leaves are divided into three narrow leaflets 0.8-2 inches (2-5 cm) long, dark green and smooth. Yellow pea-shaped flowers up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) across open singly or in small clusters near the stem tips in spring. The flowers are followed by inflated, nearly spherical seed pods about 0.4 inch (1 cm) long. As a legume it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules. Growth is fast in the first years, and plants are short-lived, often persisting 5-8 years. It grows in sandy, well-drained soils and regenerates from seed after fire. It is sensitive to prolonged waterlogging and heavy, poorly drained ground.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, in Queensland and New South Wales. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heath on sandy and sandstone-derived soils, mainly in coastal and near-coastal districts below about 2,300 feet (700 m).Suggested Uses
Used in native and low-water gardens, on sandy banks, and in habitat plantings, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart. Suited to bush gardens and the middle of native borders. Spring flowering is a pollen source for native bees.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 8'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly September to November in its native range. Individual flowers last about a week, and the plant carries scattered bloom over 6-8 weeks. Flowering is heaviest in open, sunny positions following good winter rain.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark 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 full sun to light shade in sandy, sharply drained soil. Water moderately during establishment; established plants tolerate dry periods but decline in wet, heavy ground. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it grows on low-fertility soils without added fertilizer. It can be propagated from scarified seed, which germinates after heat or smoke treatment. Plants are short-lived, often replaced after 5-8 years. Root rots develop in poorly drained or summer-humid sites.Pruning
Tip-prune from a young age to encourage branching and a denser habit. Light pruning after flowering maintains shape, while hard pruning into bare wood reshoots poorly. Remove dead stems as they appear.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons