Scientific Name: Hovea heterophylla

Common Name: winter purplepea

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Fabaceae

Form Description: Small, woody shrub, slender branches, spreading to erect; long narrow leaves 3cm.

Height (m): 0.1 – 0.2

Flowers: Blue-mauve pea flowers, 8mm across in leaf axils.

Fruit: Seed pod – round/egg-shaped hairy pod 1cm long, with 2 seeds. Pods turn from green to black at maturity and seeds turn from cream to dark grey when ripe.

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

Widespread in dry grassland and stony places.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Rocky, Shady, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

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
Seed, Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Seed drops soon after maturity. Bag maturing fruits or place groundsheets under plants to catch seed. Harvest pod close to maturity and dry in warm place. Seed extraction difficult; may be easier if seed is left attached to branch. Pods that don’t open need to be crushed.

Seed Treatment Method

Hot Water Hot water is used to soften the hard seed case of some species. This replicates the weathering process. Pour hot (not boiling) water over the seeds and allow them to soak for 4-12 hours.

Seed Storage Life

long

Seed Treatment Notes

Nicking seed provides best results. Boiling water may also be used but is more damaging than hot water. Dry seed before sowing – seed prone to rotting. Use capillary watering to reduce likelihood of seeds rotting.

Germination Time

3-4 weeks

Cutting & Division Information

Cuttings strike readily but are slow to establish.