Dwarf Sweet Pea Shrub

Dwarf Sweet Pea Shrub (Polygala myrtifolia 'Little Bibi') packs the famous flower power of the sweet pea shrub into a neat ball about 1m tall and wide. The purple pea flowers keep coming almost year round in mild climates, held over dense green foliage that shapes itself with barely any help. For fast, reliable colour along a border, a driveway or a coastal fence, very little beats it.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers most of the year. In frost free and mild gardens there is rarely a month without purple bloom, with the heaviest flushes in spring and autumn.
• Compact and self shaping. At about 1m by 1m it fills its space and stops, so it works in places a full size polygala would swamp.
• Quick to perform. It is fast growing and flowers young, giving you a furnished, blooming border within its first year or two.
• Built for tough spots. Drought tolerant once established, comfortable in heat, and salt tolerant enough for coastal gardens.
• A magnet for pollinators. Bees and butterflies work the flowers through every flush.

Where it works best

Borders and low hedges. Plant 60cm apart for a continuous low flowering hedge along a path, driveway or garden bed edge. It closes ranks quickly and stays in scale.

Mass planting. Blocked out at the same 60cm spacing it makes a low maintenance carpet of colour for banks and broad beds.

Pots and coastal gardens. It suits containers on sunny patios, and its salt tolerance makes it a dependable choice within reach of sea wind.

Growing Dwarf Sweet Pea Shrub in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings the most flower; light afternoon shade is tolerated. It thrives in subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates and does well in milder cool temperate gardens. It handles light frost only, so in cold inland districts give it a warm sheltered wall or grow it in a pot you can move.

Soil. Free draining soil of almost any type. It resents wet feet, so raise the bed slightly on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer, then taper right off; established plants cope on rainfall in most districts. A light feed of complete fertiliser in spring keeps the flushes coming.

Pruning. Trim lightly after each main flush to keep the ball tight and encourage the next round of flowers. No deadheading is needed.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Little Bibi as tube stock and in 140mm pots, with the 140mm size supplied as a pack of 10 sized for border and hedge runs. Tubes are small young plants that establish rapidly; 140mm plants are already branching and often carrying flower.

Being fast growing, it makes up size quickly once planted, and you can expect a furnished edge by the end of the first warm season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Low maintenance shrubs for Australian gardens
• Choosing the perfect edging plants
• Browse our full shrub range
• The best plants for coastal gardeners

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Space plants 60cm apart in a single row. At that spacing Little Bibi knits into a continuous low hedge within a couple of seasons while each plant keeps its rounded shape.

How fast does it grow?

Fast. It is one of the quicker small shrubs to establish, usually reaching its mature 1m frame inside two to three years and flowering from its first season.

Will it survive frost?

It takes light frost only. Occasional light frosts mark the foliage but plants recover; in districts with regular hard frosts, plant it against a warm wall or keep it in a container under cover through winter.

Does it grow well in pots?

Yes. Give it a container 300mm wide or better with free draining mix and a sunny spot, and water more often than you would in the ground. Potted plants flower just as generously.

Western Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. Please choose a local alternative.