{"product_id":"green-birdflower-crotalaria-cunninghamii","title":"Green Birdflower - Crotalaria cunninghamii","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreen Birdflower (\u003cem\u003eCrotalaria cunninghamii\u003c\/em\u003e) is an Australian native pea shrub with flowers that look like tiny green birds feeding along the stem. It grows 1 to 3m tall depending on conditions, and the large chartreuse clusters appear in winter and spring. It is a talking point in the garden, a draw for honeyeaters and a useful soil improver as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers that look like birds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Large chartreuse-green blooms line the central stem like small birds feeding, from winter into spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA draw for birds.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is planted to attract honeyeaters and other birds into the garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt feeds the soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Like other native peas, it fixes nitrogen from the air into poor, impoverished soils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt holds banks and sand.\u003c\/strong\u003e The roots help bind sand dunes and soil banks, so it earns its place on erosion-prone ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA genuine native.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows naturally across much of the country, so it suits native gardens from the coast to the inland.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative and bird gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1.5m apart in a sunny native bed, beside grevilleas, bottlebrushes and other nectar plants, and watch the honeyeaters work the flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoor soils and sandy banks.\u003c\/strong\u003e On low-fertility ground or a bank that needs holding, plant at the same 1.5m spacing and let the roots knit the soil together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA conversation piece.\u003c\/strong\u003e One specimen near a path or seat shows off the unusual flowers close up. The seed pods that follow rattle, which is why the genus is known as rattlepod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Green Birdflower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, protected from frost. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. Where winters are frosty, grow young plants in a sheltered position against a warm wall, or in a pot that can come under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained soil is essential, and sandy or poor soils suit it well. Avoid heavy clay and wet ground. Because it fixes its own nitrogen, it does not need rich soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water young plants regularly through the first summer, then ease off. Established plants manage on little. Skip rich fertilisers, which only push soft growth on a plant that makes its own nitrogen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune old flowers and dead foliage regularly. Native peas tend to be short-lived, often lasting only a few years, so plan on a replacement before the original runs out of steam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Green Birdflower as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tube stock is supplied by our grower, so it is not always on hand. A sold out tube means the grower has none right now, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back. Expect a small plant that needs a season or two to build up size before the flower display starts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eBrowse Australian native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-native-shrubs\"\u003eAustralian native shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bird-attracting\"\u003eBird attracting plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-bird-attracting-native-plants-for-australian-gardens\"\u003eTop bird-attracting native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is it called a birdflower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach large chartreuse flower sits along the central stem and looks like a small green bird feeding on it, which is where the name comes from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not list it as pet friendly. Plants in the rattlepod genus can be poisonous if eaten, so keep it away from animals and children that chew plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will it live?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative peas tend to be short-lived, and this one often lasts only a few years. Prune old flowers and dead foliage regularly, and keep a replacement in mind.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790293664063,"sku":"CRO-CUN-tube","price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/green-birdflower-crotalaria-cunninghamii.jpg?v=1792198199","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/green-birdflower-crotalaria-cunninghamii","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}