Swainsona formosa or 'Sturt's Desert Pea'. Photographs and growing notes

General Index

Sturt's Desert Pea or Swainsona formosa is the best known of the genus. Grafted Sturt's Desert Peas are the most hardy for east coast conditions.

Growing Conditions and Care
Try growing Sturt's Desert Pea in a pot, a sunny postion beneath the eaves of a house is good, this will protect the foliage from moisture.

Swainsona formosa or 'Sturt's Desert Pea' (picture right) with its flame red flowers has made this species widely recognized. It is wide spread, all states excepting Tasmania and Victoria.

Sturt Desert Pea

However other species exit, Swainsona galegifolia is the 'Darling Pea' a long-lived shrubby perennial with nice white, purple, pink or red flowers and is found in both NSW and QLD.

Swainsona sejuncta is found in QLD only and is not widely distributed. Swainsona acuticarinata, Swainsona beasleyana, Swainsona calcicola, Swainsona decurrens and Swainsona cyclocarpa are a few of the many other species.

By far the most common in nurseries are Swainsona formosa or 'Sturt's Desert Pea' and Swainsona galegifolia.

Sturt's Desert Pea or Swainsona formosa

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