Lilac Vine

Hardenbergia violacea

About the Plant

Lilac vine, an Australian native, goes by many names: purple coral pea, Australian lilac, lavender pea vine, false or Australian sarsaparilla, happy wanderer, and waraburra in the Australian Aboriginal Worimi language. The showy purple flowers will remind you of lilac but the shape of the flower clusters and the vining habit will remind you of wisteria. This vine climbs by twining around fences or trellises (or other plants) and stems can reach 20 feet or more. The leaves are evergreen with flowers appearing for a short period, usually late February into March.

Grow lilac vine in full sun to part shade, away from reflective surfaces, in well-drained soils. Provide regular irrigation during the hot, dry season. It may need a bit of fertilizer containing nitrogen and magnesium in alkaline soils. Lilac vine is hardy to about 25 degrees F; stems may be damaged at lower temperatures but recovery is quick. Prune to control a wayward branch. If needed to control size, lilac vine can be cut back to 1/2 even 1/3 in April after flowering. If allowed to grow to its full potential, make sure to provide a sturdy support.

Notes:

  • Lilac vine produces a carrot-like root. European settlers experimented with its use as a substitute for sarsaparilla.
  • Varieties with pink or white flowers and shrub forms may be available.

Wildlife value: the flowers attract bees.

More Information

Horticultural information from ASU

Map of distribution in Australia

 

ID Characteristics

This plant is in the Fabaceae - the legume (pea and bean) family.
Lilac vine is an evergreen that grows well on fences and trellises.

The woody stem will twine around supports, including itself and other plants. Its long stems may need some initial guidance to begin twining.
The leaves are evergreen, alternate, up to 5 inches long, with two small, rounded lobes at the base and a pointed tip.
The drooping flower cluster can contain as many as 60 flowers, opening from the base to the tip of the cluster. The 2-5 inch clusters are axial, that is, emerging from the stem just above a leaf. The flowers are "pea" flowers and are most typically a deep, showy purple. The uppermost petal (the banner) has a greenish-yellow center. Each flower is a bit less than 1/2 inch wide. The fruit is a pod about 1.5 inches long.