Podalyria calyptrata seeds – (Sweet pea bush, Water blossom pea, waterkeurtjie)

Description

Picture thanks to www.silverhillseeds.co.za

Podalyria calyptrata is a very attractive shrub, or small tree which has silky grey leaves and pretty pink, scented  flowers which smother the tree in spring. Very rarely the flowers can be totally white.   It is an easy plant to grow and the flowers attract bees and butterflies to the garden. The plant does best in well drained soils which have good humus, and are slightly acidic.  It is drought tolerant , but is best where it gets some water. It can tolerate light frosts to about -1 degree C. Podalyria calyptra can be used as an informal screening plant on boundaries, and looks very good in a large pot as a specimen. Pinch back the shoots to attain a more bushy plant. Podalyrias are best grown from seeds, which produce much more robust plants, rather than cuttings which are difficult to root and produce weaker plants.

Note 10 seeds in packet

Sowing advice

Sow the seed in autumn or spring. Soak the seed in warm to hot water (water that you can put your hand in) until the water cools down ( approx 2-3 hours) . Podalyrias are prone to   damping off and treating the seed with a fungicide to combat this will improve the survival rate of young seedlings. Sow the seed into cell pots  or trays and cover to them lightly  with a moist seed raising mix. Ideal temperature is 20 deg C. If you have planted them in trays, prick them out before the first pair of true leaves develops to avoid trauma  as they don’t like to have their roots disturbed.