FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE)

Native or Hill Indigo

 

0.5m -1.5m (50-150cm) 

Clusters of small pink-lilac pea flowers, occasionally white. 

Seed pods 

Erect undershrub or shrub 

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; West Tamar 

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Heath 

Widespread and locally abundant. In sandy heaths and on hillsides in areas of light or moderate rainfall. Tolerates moderately heavy frosts and extended wet periods. Adapts to most acidic soils that are well-drained. Hardiness depends on provenance. 

Dry; Moist; Shady 

Hardy 

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained 

Useful for providing low-level shelter (up to 2m) in windbreaks. Flowers provide food (pollen and nectar) for many native insects, including bees and wasps. The foliage is very palatable to sheep and wallabies, although it is reputedly toxic when flowering. Koori (mainland) uses; The roots were hammered and placed in fresh or salt water to poison fish. Suitable below powerlines. 

Pod, narrow brown with 5-10 seeds.seeds are grey-brown at maturity. seed shed soon after maturity 

Hot water 

 

 

Hot water or scarification. 

10-30 days 

Yes 

 

 

 

Grows readily from cuttings.