Scientific Name: Hovea montana

Common Name: mountain purplepea

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Fabaceae

Threatened Species Status: Rare

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

Form Description: Small to medium shrub with densely hairy branchlets, ascending to erect.

Height (m): 2 – 5

Flowers: Conspicuous bluish purple, pea-shaped with white at base, 0.8 cm across, on axillary stalks to 5 cm.

Fruit: Seed pod – turn from green to black at maturity. Seeds turn from cream to dark grey when ripe.

Municipality
No data available for this species
Plant Communities
Coastal Vegetation
Habitat Notes

Grows in sandy soils amongst rocky outcrops.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Rocky, Shady

Soil Tolerance

Loam, 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, so bag fruits or place groundsheets under plants to catch seed, or harvest pods when they turn brown. Dry in warm area.

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.

Cutting & Division Information

Cuttings strike readily but may be slow to establish.