Throughout open woodland and scrubby forest can be found the purple twining pea ( Hardenbergia violacea ) twisting and twining its way over and through understorey plants of up to two metres in height .
Where conditions are ideal , masses of purple flowers can be seen , in season , all over the supporting plant . The observant bushwalker could be forgiven in thinking that this plant is a shrub or bush in its own right .
Not so , as it is in effect a vine that twists and turns in a haphazard fashion around the branches of the host plant . Where this plant is growing and it has not been able to find a supporting bush , it will spread in a prostrate habit across the ground , even twisting upon itself , forming a brilliant spring display ground cover .
The leaves are shaped in the form of an elongated arrow head . Where the tendrils of the vine-like branchlets have reached the limit of their host support the plant continues to grow , resulting in a graceful drooping display of flower laden growth . Its main flowering period is from late July to early October .
Due to the attractive colours of its
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pea shaped flowers , horticulturists have developed many cultivars with several colour variations that are suitable for the home garden . When grown in a home environment this plant prefers a |
position of full sun in a frost-free location as well as a well drained soil that mimics its natural bushland habitat . It responds well to pruning to keep it compact .
This plant has also been given a
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variety of descriptive names , the most appropriate is happy wanderer which typically describes its growth habit . It is also known as false sarsparilla and purple coral pea . |