Pultenaea villosa
hairy bush-pea
Overview
Pultenaea villosa is an evergreen shrub in the pea family reaching 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) wide, with an erect to arching habit. Young stems are covered in soft spreading rusty hairs. Leaves are alternate, linear to narrowly oblong, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long and under 0.1 inch (2 mm) wide, with margins rolled under and a small recurved point at the tip; the undersurface and stems carry dense brown hairs. Pea-shaped flowers crowd the upper stems, each 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) across, with a yellow to orange standard petal marked with red and a red-brown keel. Flowering occurs mainly in late winter and spring. Fruit is a flattened pod about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long holding one or two seeds. Growth is moderately fast, with plants reaching flowering size in 2-3 years, and roots form nitrogen-fixing associations typical of the pea family. The species is relatively short-lived, declining after 6-10 years, and is sensitive to extended waterlogging and to being cut back into bare wood.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Grows in heathland, dry sclerophyll forest, and woodland on sandy and gravelly soils, often on ridges and slopes from sea level to about 3,000 feet (900 m).Suggested Uses
Planted in native and habitat gardens, on embankments, and in low-fertility sandy soils where it contributes nitrogen through root fixation. Spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart in shrub plantings. Its short lifespan and sensitivity to summer humidity limit use in irrigated or tropical gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Yellow-orange with red markingsFoliage Description
Green above with rusty-brown hairy undersidesGrowing 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 full sun to light shade in well-drained sandy or gravelly soil of low fertility. Water through the first growing season to establish; established plants tolerate extended dry periods but are sensitive to summer irrigation in humid climates, where root rot can develop. Phosphorus-rich fertilizers damage the roots of many Australian pea-family plants and can cause dieback. Tip-pruning after flowering maintains dense growth, while cutting back into leafless old wood seldom produces new shoots. Scale insects occur on stressed plants but are otherwise uncommon.Pruning
Tip-prune lightly after flowering to encourage branching and a compact form. Limit removal to about one-third of the current season's growth, since stems cut into leafless old wood rarely reshoot. No other routine pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons