Contributed by Ethan Mimnaugh Mooloolah Landcare Nursery
WHILE our days are still cool, the winter solstice has passed,and the days are getting longer. The lengthening amount of daylight has triggered the beautiful flushes of peaflowers, which are making themselves known across the area.
Most peaflowers enjoy full sun and well-drained soil, but several species thrive in partial shade. They are often found on the edges of rainforests, disturbed areas, and areas affected by fire. They are generally adapted to poorer quality soils. Due to a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, they are uniquely able to fix nitrogen from the air to the soil. This makes them incredible for soil regeneration.
Purple peaflowers are striking, beautiful plants. Hardenbergias are beautiful scrambling vines that hang with large amounts of panicles of deep purple flowers. Subtle twining vines like native Glycines suddenly make themselves known with delicate mauve flowers magically emerging from seemingly invisible stems.
Have you noticed Hovea covered in flowers at the moment? The previously subtle, dark green foliage has been overrun by a mass of exceptionally striking purple flowers. There are several species of Hovea, some less common than others, and there is even a white-flowering variety.
Pultaneas, or bush peas, are beginning to show their striking yellow flowers now and will continue to flower into spring. Pultaneas are extremely hardy, and can be found in heath, eucalypt forest, and even some dry rainforests. Other showy, yellow peaflowers include Handsome Flat Pea, Parrot Pea, Shaggy Pea, and Native Gorse. Collecting a variety of peaflowers will ensure you have showy, interesting flowers throughout the year.
If you have been enjoying some of the showy flowers on the sides of the road, you’ve probably been enjoying peaflowers; so visit Mooloolah Landcare, or your favourite native plant nursery, and grab a few peaflowers for your garden.
