Family: Papilionaceae

Brachysema is a small genus of low or prostrate shrubs, found mostly in Western Australia, most of which adapt well to a range of conditions. The foliage is variable, from attractive, oval green leaves, silvery and velvety on the undersides, to leafless stems. All species, except one, have bright red pea flowers. The spreading species make very good ground-covers or trailing plants. The species are frost-tender and are therefore generally grown under glass, or outdoors only where there is little risk of frost.

Species

Not often available outside their native country.

B. aphyllum is an unusual, spreading, prostrate plant, with thick, gray-green, leafless stems and large, erect, bright red flowers. This species is sensitive to frost.

B. celsianum, Swan River pea, is the most common species and provides excellent groundcover. This dense, leafy plant grows to 1 m (3 ft) high and spreads to about 2.5 m (8 ft), and will tolerate quite heavy, damp soil as long as it has protection from very hot sun. It has gray-green foliage and the red flowers are sometimes hidden.

B. praemorsum is a leafy, prostrate shrub, spreading to over 1 m (3 ft), which makes a good groundcover. It has almost triangular leaves and erect red-purple flowers which bloom over a long period.

Cultivation

Grow in pots in a cool greenhouse or conservatory with maximum light. Use a soilless potting compost. Outdoors, grow in a free-draining soil, well mulched with manure or compost. Propagate from the hard-coated seeds contained within the fruit. Nick the seed coat with a knife or cover the seeds with boiling water and stand for 12 hours. Those which are fertile swell and will germinate first. Sow in a coarse sand and peat mix of 3:1. Alternatively, propagate from 10 cm (4 in) cuttings taken in autumn. Remove the lower leaves, dust with hormone powder and place in the same sand and peat mix.

Climate

Zones 9 or 10.