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Hovea heterophylla

common hovea

Fabaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Hovea heterophylla is a small evergreen perennial subshrub growing 4-20 inches (10-50 cm) tall, ranging from prostrate to weakly erect. The slender stems carry alternate leaves that vary widely in shape on the same plant, from narrow and linear to oblong or rounded, 0.4-2 inches (1-5 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath. Violet to purple pea flowers about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long are borne in small clusters along the stems in late winter and spring, each with a paler or greenish-white marking at the centre of the standard petal. Short flattened pods 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long follow, containing one or two seeds. Growth is slow to moderate. The variable leaf shape gives the species its name heterophylla, meaning different-leaved. Plants are short-lived and tend to flower heavily then decline, often persisting 3-4 years before needing replacement.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. Grows in grassy woodland, dry forest, and heath on well-drained sandy and loam soils, often among grasses and low shrubs.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native gardens, rockeries, and grassland-style plantings, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Used in revegetation and as an understorey legume among grasses and small shrubs. The short lifespan and sparse habit limit its use as a long-term structural plant.

How to Identify

Identified by violet to purple pea flowers with a pale central blotch, 0.4 inch (10 mm) long, set against leaves that vary in shape from linear to rounded on a single plant. The low, sometimes prostrate habit and short two-seeded pods help separate it from taller Hovea spp. species such as Hovea linearis, which has consistently narrow leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'8"

Width/Spread8" - 1'8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowers from July to October, with peak bloom in late winter and early spring. Each plant flowers for about 4-6 weeks. Flowering is often heavier in the spring following summer or autumn fire.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

violet to purple

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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 Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

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 in well-drained sandy or loam soils of low fertility. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and needs no supplementary feeding; rich or heavily fertilised soils shorten its lifespan. Established plants tolerate seasonal dryness but decline in waterlogged ground. Crown rot develops in wet, poorly drained soils. Plants are short-lived and are commonly raised from seed, which germinates after heat or smoke treatment.

Pruning

Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the habit compact and delays the open, woody decline of older plants. Hard pruning into bare stems is slow to reshoot. Spent flowering stems can be trimmed back to the first healthy leaves.

Pruning Schedule

spring

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown