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Hardenbergia violacea

false sarsaparilla

Fabaceae Eastern and southern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Hardenbergia violacea, known as false sarsaparilla or purple coral pea, is an evergreen twining climber or low scrambling shrub of the pea family, widespread across eastern and southern Australia. Its wiry stems wind to 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) through supports, or trail as a groundcover where nothing is at hand to climb. The leathery, dark green leaves are lance-shaped, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, with a network of pale veins. From winter into spring the plant carries long sprays of small violet to purple pea flowers, each with a greenish-yellow spot on the upper petal, with white and pink forms also in cultivation. The flowers are followed by flat seed pods. H. violacea grows in open forest, woodland, and heath on well-drained soils and tolerates light frost, drought, and a range of ground from sandy to clay. It can scramble widely and may smother low plants if left unchecked, and it is sensitive to heavy frost and poorly drained sites. The winter bloom and twining habit have made it a common climber for fences, trellises, and banks in mild climates.

Native Range

Native to Australia, occurring across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. It grows in open forest, woodland, heath, and along watercourses, from the coast to the ranges.

Suggested Uses

Grown on fences, trellises, pergolas, and embankments, and as a groundcover on slopes for erosion control. The winter-spring flowers support native bees. It is also grown in containers and trained on small frames in courtyards.

How to Identify

Look for a wiry evergreen climber with leathery, lance-shaped dark green leaves marked by a net of pale veins, and long sprays of small violet-purple pea flowers in winter and spring. Each flower has the paired wing-and-keel form typical of the pea family with a yellow-green blotch on the standard petal. Flat seed pods follow the flowers. The single, undivided leaves separate it from many other Australian climbing peas, which have compound leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 10'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering runs from late winter into spring, roughly July to November in its native range. The long racemes of violet pea flowers are worked by native bees. Bloom is heaviest in full sun and can cover the plant for several weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

violet to purple

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

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

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on well-drained soil and adapt to sandy or clay ground once drainage is adequate. Water young plants through dry spells, then water sparingly, as established vines tolerate drought. The plant handles light frost but is cut back by hard freezes and rots in waterlogged soil. A low-phosphorus feed suits it, in keeping with its Australian-native roots. It fixes nitrogen as a legume and needs little fertilizer. A trellis or fence supports the twining stems, or it can trail as a groundcover.

Pruning

A trim after flowering keeps the climber dense and within bounds and removes spent flower sprays. Hard pruning into old wood is tolerated and rejuvenates leggy plants. Tip-pinching young stems builds a fuller framework.

Pruning Schedule

spring