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Hardenbergia comptoniana

native wisteria

Fabaceae South-western Western Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Hardenbergia comptoniana is an evergreen twining climber growing 6-13 feet (2-4 m) high with slender, wiry stems that twist around supports. Leaves are divided into three leaflets, each lance-shaped to oval, 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long, dark green and leathery, separating it from the single-leaflet leaves of the eastern Hardenbergia violacea. Pea-shaped flowers are about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long, violet to purple with a greenish-yellow spot on the standard petal, and are carried in branched sprays of 20-60 flowers in the leaf axils. Flowering occurs in late winter and spring. Flowers are followed by flat, oblong pods 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long that ripen brown and split to release hard seeds. As a legume, it fixes nitrogen through root nodules. Growth is moderate to fast once established, and stems can climb fences and shrubs or trail as a ground cover. Foliage is held year-round. Without support the plant scrambles and mounds; on a trellis it forms a dense screen. White- and pink-flowered forms occur in cultivation.

Native Range

Native to south-western Western Australia, from north of Geraldton south to Albany. Grows in jarrah and tuart forest, woodland, and coastal scrub, climbing through shrubs and small trees on sandy and gravelly soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown on trellises, fences, pergolas, and embankments, and as a trailing ground cover, spaced 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) apart. Used to screen structures and to cover banks for erosion control. Grows in large containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with a support and free-draining mix.

How to Identify

Recognised by leaves divided into three leathery leaflets 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long and branched sprays of 20-60 violet to purple pea flowers, each about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long with a greenish-yellow mark on the standard petal. The three-leaflet leaves separate it from Hardenbergia violacea, which has a single leaflet. The twining stems and flat brown pods are also characteristic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 13'

Width/Spread5' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowers in late winter and spring, July to October, with the heaviest display in early spring. Branched sprays of violet to purple flowers open over several weeks. Flowering is heavier in sunny positions and lighter in shade.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

violet to purple

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-9 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 Range5.5 - 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

Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soils and tolerates drought and short frosts once established. Watering through the first summer aids establishment, after which little supplementary water is needed. As a legume it fixes its own nitrogen; phosphate fertilisers can damage the roots. It twines and can smother small shrubs if left unmanaged, so it is grown on a trellis or open fence. Few pests trouble it, though it can be short-lived, persisting around 8-12 years. Hard frost damages soft new growth.

Pruning

Pruning after flowering controls size and shape and keeps the plant from smothering nearby plants. It tolerates moderately hard pruning and reshoots from older wood. Cutting back leggy growth promotes denser foliage and more flowering shoots.

Pruning Schedule

spring