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Scientific Name
Hovea heterophylla
Family Name
FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE)
Common Name
Common Hovea, Bird's eye
Status
Height
<0.10m (<10cm)
Flowers
Blue-mauve pea flowers, 8mm across in leaf axils.
Fruit
Seed pods
Form
Small, woody shrub, slender branches, spreading to erect; long narrow leaves 3cm.
Municipalities
Communities
Grassy Vegetation
Habitat Notes
Widespread in dry grassland & stony places.
Site Tolerance
Dry; Dry; Exposed; Rocky; Shady; Windy
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
Soil Tolerance
Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
Use capillary watering to reduce likelihood of seeds rotting. Harvest pod close to maturity & 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. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Round/egg-shaped hairy pod1cm long, with 2 seeds. pods turn from green to black at maturity and seeds turn from cream to dark grey when ripe. seed drops soon after maturity. bag maturing fruits or place groundsheets under plants to catch seed
Seed Treatment Method
Hot water
Seed Storage Life
long
Viable Seeds Per Gram
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.
Germination Time
3-4 weeks
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Cutting Notes
Cuttings strike readily but are slow to establish.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-11-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith