Hovea acutifolia
purple bush pea
Overview
Hovea acutifolia is an evergreen shrub in the pea family reaching 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) tall and 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) wide, with an upright, open framework of slender branches. Young stems are coated in rusty-brown hairs. Leaves are alternate, lance-shaped with a pointed tip, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long and 0.4-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) wide, dark green above and paler with rusty hairs beneath. Purple to violet pea flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across cluster along the branches in the leaf axils, each with a paler throat at the centre of the standard petal. Flowering occurs in late winter and early spring. Flowers give way to inflated rounded pods 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long, each holding one or two seeds. Growth is moderate to fast, with plants reaching flowering size in 2-3 years. The species is short-lived, often declining after 6-10 years, and the open habit can become leggy without pruning.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, in coastal and near-coastal districts of southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. Grows in open eucalypt forest and along rainforest margins, on well-drained sandy or loamy soils from near sea level to about 2,600 feet (800 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in native gardens, mixed shrub borders, and bird-attracting plantings, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. The winter flowers feed native bees during a lean season. The short lifespan and open base limit its role as a permanent screen.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height5' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from July to September, across late winter and early spring. Peak bloom lasts about 3-4 weeks, when massed purple flowers crowd the upper branches. Bloom begins earlier in warm coastal districts than in cooler inland sites. Flowering declines if the previous summer was severely dry.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
purple to violetFoliage 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 well-drained sandy or loamy soil in full sun to part shade; growth is poor in wet or heavy clay soils. Water through the first one to two seasons to establish the roots; established plants tolerate dry spells and need little extra water. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and seldom needs fertiliser, and phosphorus-rich feeds can harm the roots. Root-rot fungi such as Phytophthora spp. cause collapse in poorly drained ground. The species is short-lived and tends to become open and woody at the base with age.Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering to keep the habit compact and reduce legginess. Plants tolerate removal of up to one-third of the recent growth and reshoot from younger wood. Cutting back into bare old wood often fails to reshoot. Light annual trimming extends the useful life of the open framework.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