Hardenbergia violacea

Hardenbergia violacea is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to Australia from Queensland to Tasmania.[1] It is known in Australia by the common names false sarsaparilla, purple coral pea, happy wanderer, native lilac and waraburra (which comes from the Kattang language).[2] Elsewhere it is also called vine lilac[3] or lilac vine.

Hardenbergia violacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Hardenbergia
Species:
H. violacea
Binomial name
Hardenbergia violacea
(Schneev.) Stearn

Description

It is a vigorous evergreen climber growing to 6 m (20 ft) or more, sometimes growing as a subshrub.[4] It has typical pea-like flowers which are usually violet but can be white, pink or other colours.[5] The leaves are dark green, "hard" and leathery, with prominent venation.

Blossom detail

H. violacea regrows from its roots after fire.[6] The roots were experimented with by early European settlers as a substitute for sarsaparilla.[6]

Cultivation

H. violacea is a widespread species found in many habitats. It is also widely grown as a garden plant, with many cultivars now available.[5] It is hardy in mild and coastal areas of the UK where temperatures do not fall below −5 °C (23 °F), but it does require a sheltered, south or west facing situation. Alternatively it may be grown indoors with full daylight, for instance in an unheated conservatory or greenhouse. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]

It can be propagated from seed after pre-treatment (e.g. scarification), when around 21 °C.[9][10] The seeds are naturally dispersed by ants.[10]

References
  1. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  2. Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project: Plants of Ash Island
  3. "Hardenbergia violacea". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. C. Gardner. "New South Wales Flora Online: Hardenbergia violacea". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  5. "Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP): Hardenbergia violacea". Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  6. False (or Native) Sarsaparilla Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Paddock Plants, NSW Department of Primary Industries (2010).
  7. "RHS Plant Selector - Hardenbergia violacea". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  8. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 43. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  9. Amy Grant, Coral Pea Plant Care: How To Grow Hardenbergia Coral Pea, Gardening Know How (2015).
  10. Hardenbergia violacea, Florabank.
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