Fynbos Corridor Collaboration

Dally pine

Psoralea pinnata

© (c) Keith Morris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Keith Morris (CC-BY-NC)

Description - from Wikipedia

Psoralea pinnata is an erect evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to a height between 1.5 metres (5 ft) and 4 metres (13 ft) tall.

Description
This plant has fine deep green linear leaves that are deeply divided with a length of about 40 millimetres (2 in). The linear leaf blades occur in crowded alternate spirals are 0.8 millimetres (0 in) to 2 millimetres (0 in) in width and taper from the base.
This plant blooms with white, lilac or blue pea shaped sweet smelling flowers between October and December. in large clusters toward the end of the branches.
Flowering is followed by the production of small pods, each of these contain a single dark brown seed.

Distribution
Psoralea pinnata is a native of South Africa; it is also an established alien species in other countries, particularly Southern Australia and New Zealand.

Common names
Psoralea pinnata has many common names. In South Africa the plant is commonly known as the fountain bush or fonteinbos, it also is called penwortel, bloukeur and is known as umhlonishwa by the Zulu. In Australia, where P. pinnata is a weed, it is known as taylorina and in Western Australia it is also known as the blue broom or the Albany broom. In other parts of the world it is also called the African scurf pea, taylorina, blue psoralea and the Dally pine.

References

Media related to Psoralea pinnata at Wikimedia Commons

Read more here

Species Characteristics

Wildlife supported

Bees Bees

Growth features

Easy to grow Easy to grow

Social features

Fragrant Fragrant

Habitats

Near water Near water

Aspect

Sun Sun

Plant types

Tree Tree
Flowering Period
  • Purple
Mar Apr May Dec

Propagation

By Seed

It is best grown from seed. A handful of soil taken from below the parent plant and added to the seed tray is generally helpful when sowing Fabaceae seeds. This helps to ensure that the symbiotic mycorrhiza which grow on the roots and encourage nutrient uptake are present. Seedlings should be planted along a stream or in an area which receives a substantial amount of water.

By Cutting

As with most Fabaceae, growing Psoralea pinnata is quite difficult from cuttings.

Nursery availability

No nursery stock found.

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