Plant Profile – Hardenbergia violacea False Sarsparilla

Hardenbergia is a well-known Australian species, which sells nicely in spring due to its prolific early flowers. Unfortunately the flowers often disappear early in September in many regions. New breeding has developed a longer flowering variety.

Hardenbergia violacea can actually be quite a variable species. Different forms can climb, trail or have a more upright shrubby habit. ‘Happy Wanderer’ can spread 2 metres or more along the ground giving you a fast quick growing ground cover alternative, unfortunately it can also be a little short lived, basically growing itself out of energy. Climbing varieties are great for hiding ugly fences or for using on trellises and pergolas, they are also suitable for a pot or a container.

Hardenbergia violacea is generally a very hardy plant, being able to cope with dry conditions and moderate frosts. They are adaptable in most soils and aspects but will prefer a well drained soil and a sunny to semi shaded position. Sunnier positions will usually result in better flowering. Most Hardenbergia varieties produce beautiful purple coloured flowers but there are also white and pink flowering forms of the species but the pink does not seem to be as strong as the others.

Some of the shrubby forms of Hardenbergia are very useful for mass plantings, rock gardens, retaining walls and banks for home gardens and larger landscapes, and require less maintenance. There are some good shrubby forms on the market such as ‘Bushy Blue’, which can grow to 60cm tall. ‘Mini Haha’ is a compact dwarf form but it is not as robust as other types. Both need reasonable draining soils.

Most Hardenbergia types used in low maintenance landscape applications, do not keep clean foliage, tend to burn, go backwards and eventually die out when the going gets tough. A new Variety named ‘Meema’ has been extensively tested for use in the landscape and has been bred to withstand adverse conditions, including unlike most others heavier soils.

‘Meema’ is a shrubby longer lived ground cover form which has a very tidy appearance, great form and crisp, clean foliage and best of all, flowers many weeks longer. ‘Meema’ will grow to approximately 45cm to 70cm tall with a 2 metre spread which is ideal for outcompeting weeds and creating a ground cover with a shrubby appearance, or it can be used as a moderate paced climber. Pruned annually ‘Meema’ can be kept as a shrub from. It’s important to moderately prune all Hardenbergias annually.

‘Meema’ http://www.bestplants.com.au/native-shr ... meema.html

‘Happy Wanderer’ http://www.cradocnursery.com.au/plants/ ... rer-.shtml

‘Bushy Blue’ http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsh ... y-Blue/105

‘Mini Haha’ http://www.ausplantnursery.com.au/featu ... nihaha.htm