Family: Leguminosae
Scientific name: Swainsona formosa
Common name: Sturt's Desert Pea
Origin: Australia

Sturt's desert Pea grows in the driest areas of Western and Southern Australia and catches attention with its alluring bright red flowers. This colourful plant creates an interesting contrast with its dry surrounding environment. The flowers are about 9cm long, grow in clusters of 6 to 7 flowers and have a black swell in the middle. They grow above the climbing stems to be available for birds for pollination. After the pollination pods are formed containing new seeds. Depending on your home environment this species can be kept as a pot plant, but it is important to provide a deep pot for the deep taproot of this species. In nature, they use this taproot to reach deep enough in the desert soil for water. Furthermore, the plant likes a spot in the sun and a well draining soil. The plant can already start blooming a few months after germination from seed. This Desert Pea was named after the British explorer Charles Sturt. He played a large part in mapping the nature of central Australia.

Sowing description: Scarify the seeds in one place with sandpaper, so that the seed coat becomes thinner. Then, soak the seeds for 48 hours in lukewarm water and sow them in sowing mix. Germination generally occurs within a few weeks at a temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius. Keep the soil continually lightly moistened. 

Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: 0 degrees Celsius