Sweet Pea Shrub

Sweet Pea Shrub (Polygala x dalmaisiana) is a rounded evergreen shrub that carries vivid purple, sweet pea shaped flowers through most of the year wherever winters are mild. It grows to about 1.5m high and 1m wide, a size that suits a flowering hedge, a feature plant or a bold mass planting.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers most of the year. Bright purple flowers keep coming through the warmer months and into winter in mild, frost free climates.
• A neat rounded mound. The natural shape holds together with very little help, so it looks tidy even between trims.
• Hedge or feature. Plant it in a row for a colourful hedge, or use a single plant as a punchy accent.
• Prune to promote flowers. A trim at the start of spring keeps growth compact and flowering heavy.
• Sun lover that copes with a little shade. It prefers full sun but will tolerate a small amount of shade where the garden needs it.

Where it works best

Flowering hedge. Plant 80cm apart in a single row for a hedge of about 1.5m, covered in purple flowers for much of the year.

Mass planting. Set plants 1m apart in drifts for a solid block of colour that holds up across the seasons.

Feature planting. One or three plants at a gate, a corner or the end of a path give a bold, long lasting display that bees visit.

Growing Sweet Pea Shrub in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, tolerating a little shade. Protect it from frost: it flowers best in mild climates, so subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens suit it, and frost can burn the foliage and slow flowering in colder areas.

Soil. Free draining soil rich in organic matter. Dig compost through before planting.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well, especially while it establishes. Use a controlled release fertiliser three times a year, for example in spring, summer and autumn.

Pruning. Trim at the beginning of spring to promote compact growth and flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Sweet Pea Shrub as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly and is the economical choice for a long hedge, while the 140mm pots give you a stronger plant to start with. Plants travel upright, and are best planted out soon after arrival, then mulched and watered in.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are 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

• Compare our best hedging plants
• Flowering plants for colour
• Plants for mass planting
• How to create a great hedge and keep it looking sharp

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 80cm apart for a hedge and 1m apart for a mass planting or a drift.

When does it flower?

In mild, frost free climates it flowers for most of the year. Frost slows or stops the flowering.

Does it spread or become a weed?

It does not spread by runners, but some close relatives have seeded into bushland in southern states. Keep it in garden beds away from bushland boundaries.