This outrageous little pea flower is growing in my daughters primary school, it thinks it is unassuming and doing its own thing, little does it realise what a show off it is! Chorizema cordatum is a wonderful South West Australian species which grows in moist gravelly well drained soil. It will grow in full sun but actually prefers part shade.

Here you can see it is growing underneath a large Eucalyptus tree and probably never receives regular water. This hardy species grows into a scraggly shrub which flowers for most of the year. However in early Spring it really does put on a show.

Look at the colour combination of these flowers, Orange, Pink and Yellow in the centre and on top of that they are heart shaped tiny faces 😆 It is just gorgeous! Chorizema cordatum it not long lived so it parties whilst it can.

Chorizema cordatum only lives for a few years, this one in the school grounds has been around for 6 years that I know of so it could be longer….

It will grow unto 1 metre high and spread to 1.5 metres, it works well with other low shrubs and can even be thrown into the mix with exotic species without looking out of place.

The dark green leaves are quite attractive and when the plant is young you can encourage it to have a denser habit by tip pruning. The flowers form all along the arching stems in typical pea flower clusters. It really is an exceptionally bright and happy native plant which should be seen more brightening up those difficult shady corners.