Pultenaea gunnii
golden bush-pea
Overview
Pultenaea gunnii is an evergreen shrub in the pea family, low and spreading to erect, reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) wide. Stems are wiry and densely clothed in small leaves. Leaves are narrow, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, with a pointed tip and inrolled margins, dark green and often crowded along the stems. Pea flowers 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across cluster at the branch tips, with a yellow to orange standard petal marked with red and a red keel. Flowering occurs in spring. Flowers are followed by small flattened pods about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long, each containing one or two seeds. Growth is moderate, and plants flower within 2-3 years of seeding. The species is short-lived, declining after about 5-8 years, and tends to open out at the base over time.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, in Victoria, Tasmania, and southern New South Wales. Grows in heathland, dry sclerophyll forest, and subalpine scrub on well-drained sandy and gravelly soils, from the lowlands to the mountains.Suggested Uses
Grown in native and rockery gardens, on embankments, and in low informal borders, spaced 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) apart. The spring flowers feed native bees and other insects. The short lifespan limits its use as a long-term structural planting.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly from September to December depending on altitude and region. Peak bloom lasts about 4-6 weeks. Higher-altitude populations flower several weeks later than lowland ones. A dry spring can shorten the display.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow-orange with red markingsFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in well-drained sandy or gravelly soil in full sun to light shade; it does not tolerate wet, heavy ground. Water through the first one to two seasons to establish, after which plants withstand dry periods with little extra water. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and rarely needs fertiliser; phosphorus-rich products can damage the roots. Root-rot fungi cause dieback in poorly drained soils. The species is short-lived and becomes sparse at the base with age.Pruning
Tip-prune after flowering to maintain a compact, bushy shape and slow the opening of the base. Plants tolerate removal of up to one-third of the recent growth. Hard cutting into bare old wood often fails to reshoot. Regular light trimming lengthens the useful life of the plant.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons