Podolobium spp.

shaggy pea

Fabaceae Eastern and Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Podolobium spp. is a small genus of evergreen shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae), endemic to eastern and southeastern Australia. The genus was separated from Oxylobium spp., and its members are known as shaggy peas for the dense hairs on the stems and pods. Plants range from low, spreading subshrubs to erect or scrambling shrubs 0.5-3 m (1.5-10 ft) tall, with stiff, sometimes holly-like leaves that carry spiny teeth in Podolobium ilicifolium. The leaves are opposite or whorled, leathery, and deep green. In spring the branch tips carry clusters of typical pea flowers, each 8-12 mm across, in yellow to orange with red or brown markings at the centre. Flowers are followed by short, hairy, swollen pods containing several hard seeds. The genus fixes nitrogen through root nodules and colonises sandy, nutrient-poor soils in heath and open forest. Several species regenerate from soil-stored seed after fire. One limitation is frost sensitivity: most species tolerate only light frost and are damaged where winter temperatures fall much below -3 C (27 F).

Native Range

Podolobium spp. is endemic to eastern and southeastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, where species grow in heath, woodland, and dry sclerophyll forest.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native, coastal, and low-water gardens, in shrub borders, and on dry banks for erosion control. The prickly species are used as informal barrier plantings. Plants also support nectar- and pollen-feeding insects in habitat gardens.

How to Identify

Identify Podolobium spp. by its pea flowers in yellow-and-red tones clustered at the stem tips and by the hairy, inflated seed pods that give the shaggy-pea name. The stiff leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, and in some species, such as Podolobium ilicifolium, the margins bear sharp, holly-like spines. Reddish hairs on the young stems are a further guide.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 10'

Width/Spread1'6" - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring

Flowering is concentrated in spring, from about August to November in the native range, with scattered flowers at other times in mild areas. The yellow-to-orange pea flowers open over several weeks at the branch tips. Bloom is heaviest on plants in open, sunny positions.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow to orange with red markings

Foliage Description

deep green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 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 Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Podolobium spp. grows in sharply drained sandy or gravelly soils that are low in phosphorus, at an acidic pH of about 5.0 to 6.5, in full sun to light shade. As a legume it needs little feeding, and phosphorus-rich fertilisers can harm the roots. Watering is needed while plants establish, after which most species tolerate seasonal dryness. The genus suits frost-free and lightly frosted climates and corresponds to roughly USDA zones 9 to 10. Open air movement reduces fungal problems on the foliage. Plants are generally short-lived, persisting around 5 to 10 years.

Pruning

A light trim after flowering keeps the shrubs compact and encourages branching. Hard cutting into old bare wood is poorly tolerated, so pruning stays within the leafy growth. Spent pods can be left in place to release seed.

Pruning Schedule

late springsummer

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Shrub