Scientific Name: Hardenbergia violacea

Common Name: purple coralpea

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Fabaceae

Threatened Species Status: Endangered

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Slender stems, wiry and rigid, trailing over low growing plants.

Flowers: Purple, sprays of massed pea flowers along branches.

Fruit: Seed pod – turn dark brown and become brittle. The ripe seed are hard and grey.

Municipality
Sorell
Plant Communities
No data available for this species
Habitat Notes

Occurs in a diverse range of soil types and habitats from near sea-level to high mountains. Tolerates frost and extended dry periods.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Moist, Shady

Soil Tolerance

Clay, Fertile, Loam, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Can be direct sown but is not a particularly good establisher. Bee attracting. Flowers provide food (nectar and pollen) for various insects including native moths and butterflies, and native bees and wasps. Plants provide refuge for reptiles and various insects. Grows well in most acidic to slightly alkaline soils. Prefers heavy soils provided drainage is adequate. Tolerates shade but prefers full or partial sun.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Impractical Propagation material is too difficult to collect or conditions for propagation or cultivation are too specialized.

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Tasmanian form is not known in cultivation. Information is for mainland form. Collect Dec-Feb after carefully monitoring. Check seed for a host of seed-eating insects which must be disposed of before storing.

Seed Treatment Method

Boiling Water Pour boiling water over the seed and allow to soak for 24 hours before sowing.

Seed Treatment Notes

Tasmanian form is not known in cultivation. Information is for mainland form. Scarification encourages germination. Pour boiling water over seed and soak for 24 hours or boil seed for 30-60 secs before plunging into cold water and sowing. Sow seed thinly – rotting is reduced by sowing in Sept-Nov. Scarified seed can be stored if dried at room temperature first.

Cutting & Division Information

Tasmanian form is not known in cultivation. Information is for mainland form. Cuttings strike readily from firm young growth cut through the internodes; there is no need to cut below a node.