Pigea stellarioides
spade flower
Overview
Pigea stellarioides is a slender, erect perennial herb or small subshrub reaching 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall, with several wiry stems rising from a woody base. The narrow leaves are linear to lance-shaped, 0.4-1.5 inches (1-4 cm) long, green, and scattered along the stems. Small irregular flowers, about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across, are yellow to orange with five unequal petals, the lowest enlarged into a broad spade-shaped lip and the others much smaller. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer. Small capsules follow, splitting to scatter seed. Growth is slow to moderate, and the plant has an open, sparse form rather than a dense bush. Top growth may die back in drought and dry conditions, reshooting from the woody base. The wiry, open habit means the flowers are spaced along thin stems rather than massed.
Native Range
Native to much of mainland Australia, occurring across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Grows in open forest, woodland, and grassland in sandy and gravelly well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Used in native wildflower gardens, grassland plantings, and revegetation, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Suits low-fertility, well-drained sites in informal schemes. The open, wiry habit gives a sparse rather than dense effect in borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to orangeFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade in sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils of low fertility. Water during establishment; established plants tolerate dry conditions and die back in extended drought. Tolerates light to moderate frost. Grows as an open, wiry plant that suits naturalistic rather than formal plantings. Few pests are recorded. Trim lightly after flowering to tidy the stems and encourage branching.Pruning
Trim spent stems lightly after flowering to encourage branching and a denser form. Cut back in late winter to refresh growth from the woody base. No heavy pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons