Sweetheart Purple Coral Pea

Sweetheart Purple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia violacea 'Sweetheart') is a versatile native with larger, glossy leaves than the species and deep purple pea flowers through winter and spring. Left to mound, it forms a dense groundcover about 10cm high that spreads up to 2.5m. Given a support, it climbs. It is the coral pea to choose when you want one plant to do several jobs.

Why you'll love it

• Larger, glossier leaves. The foliage is bigger than the species form, so the plant looks lush even outside the flowering season.
• Flowers that stand proud. Deep purple flowers sit upright above the glossy leaves, so you see more of them.
• Groundcover or climber. Let it mound as a dense groundcover, or give it a trellis, fence or pergola and train it up as a climber.
• Tough in tricky spots. It suits coastal gardens, poolsides and low maintenance plantings, and it is drought tolerant once established.
• Winter colour. Flowers open through winter and spring, when most gardens could do with more colour.

Where it works best

Groundcover and banks. Plant 1.5m apart to cover ground or cascade down a bank or low wall. Each plant spreads up to 2.5m, so at 1.5m centres neighbours overlap and close up quickly.

Fences and pergolas. Tie the stems to wires or a trellis to train it as a quick screen on a fence or pergola.

Pots, poolsides and the coast. Spills over the edge of a pot on a deck, and suits poolside beds and coastal gardens where tough, low maintenance cover is needed.

Growing Sweetheart Purple Coral Pea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade gives the longest flowering. Protect it from frost. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and hot dry gardens, including coastal positions.

Soil. Well-drained soil suits it. Mulch around the plants to keep roots cool and moisture in.

Water and feed. Hardenbergias are drought tolerant but flower better with reliable water, so water regularly in dry spells. Mulch and water well until established, usually around 12 weeks. After pruning, mulch and feed with a slow-release native fertiliser in spring, with phosphorus under 3 per cent.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to encourage a dense habit and a longer flowering season.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Sweetheart Purple Coral Pea as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are an economical way to cover a bank or a long fence, and they usually settle in within a few weeks of planting. Decide early whether you want a groundcover or a climber, and provide the support from the start.

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

• Browse the hardenbergia range
• Plants for retaining walls and banks
• Plants for poolside gardens
• More climbers and groundcovers

Common questions

Is Sweetheart a groundcover or a climber?

Both. Left unsupported it mounds into a groundcover about 10cm high, spreading up to 2.5m. Given a fence, trellis or pergola it climbs.

How much space does it need?

Allow up to 2.5m across for each plant, with 1.5m between plants for a groundcover planting.

Does it need much water?

It is drought tolerant, but it flowers better with reliable water, so water regularly through dry spells and mulch to hold the moisture in.