Kennedia Rubicunda
Kennedia rubicunda (Schneev.) Vent.
Kennedia rubicunda, the dusky coral pea, is a vigorous and hardy Australian native climbing or sprawling vine bearing large, striking deep red to dusky-crimson pea flowers in spring. Bold, bird-attracting, and extremely adaptable, it is one of the most robust of Australia's native legume vines and one of the earliest Australian plants to enter cultivation in England.
Fabaceae
Spring (August to November), peaking in October; some sporadic flowering may occur in late winter and early summer; the main display is concentrated in spring
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: melaleuca citrinas and kunzea baxteris also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Kennedia rubicunda holds a distinguished place in the history of Australian plants in cultivation as one of the earliest Australian species to be grown in European gardens. It was introduced to cultivation in England in 1788, the very same year as the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove, making it a plant with a history entwined with the earliest European settlement of Australia. The genus Kennedia was named by English botanist Robert Brown in honour of John Kennedy (1759-1842), an English nurseryman who operated the celebrated Lee and Kennedy nursery in London, which was for many years the principal source of Australian native plants available in England. The species was first formally described in 1793 by Dutch botanist George Voorhelm Schneevoogt, who named it Glycine rubicunda; it was transferred to Kennedia in 1804 by the French botanist Etienne Pierre Ventenat. The species name rubicunda comes from the Latin meaning "red," referring to the deep red flowers. The plant is notable for its seed dispersal by ants, a process called myrmecochory: the seeds bear fatty, lipid-rich structures called elaiosomes that attract ants, which carry the seeds back to their nests, eat the elaiosome, and discard the undamaged seed, effectively dispersing it across the forest floor. The deep, dusky red of the flowers has an unusual, almost smoky quality that sets it apart from the brighter reds of many other native plants and contributes to its somewhat understated yet profound beauty.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade; flowers most freely in a sunny position; tolerates moderate shade on forest margins
Water
Moderate; tolerates dry conditions once established; water regularly in summer through the first two years; established plants need minimal supplementary watering in temperate climates; mulch to retain moisture
Soil
Sandy, Sandy loam, Loam, Clay loam, Humus-rich, Well-drained, Acidic to neutral
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in well-drained humus-rich soil in a sunny or partly shaded position
Water regularly through the first two summers to establish a strong root system; once established, the plant is moderately drought-tolerant
Provide a trellis, fence, or other support structure for climbing; without support it sprawls as a dense groundcover
Prune regularly after flowering to maintain a compact, bushy habit; without pruning the plant can become quite large and sprawling
Apply a low-phosphorus native-specific fertiliser sparingly every one to two years
Propagate from seed after pre-treating the hard seed coat by abrasion or soaking in boiling water; cuttings may also be attempted but are less reliable than seed
Note that in Tasmania and New Zealand this species is considered an introduced weed; do not plant it where it could escape into native bush in those regions
The species is not reliably frost-hardy; it is best suited to coastal and warm temperate environments and may be damaged by hard frosts
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Climbing vine for fences, trellises, pergolas, and arches
- Dense groundcover for slopes and banks when grown without a support
- Bird-attracting garden planting; the deep red flowers are rich in nectar and draw honeyeaters
- Habitat plant for caterpillars and other native insects
- Erosion control on sloping sites
- Container growing for courtyards and balcony gardens with a support structure
Traditional Uses
- Aboriginal Australians traditionally used Kennedia species as a source of nectar, sucking the sweet nectar directly from the large flowers
- As a legume, the plant fixes nitrogen through root nodule bacteria, enriching surrounding soil in its natural forest and woodland habitats
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kennedia Rubicunda
Why is kennedia rubicunda called dusky coral pea?
The common name dusky coral pea refers to the colour of the flowers, which are a deep, somewhat muted or "dusky" red to crimson rather than a vivid bright red, with an almost dark, smoky quality. "Coral pea" refers to the coral-like colouring and the classic pea-flower shape of the blooms, shared with related genera like Hardenbergia. The scientific name rubicunda simply means "red" in Latin.
When was kennedia rubicunda first grown in cultivation?
Kennedia rubicunda was introduced to English cultivation in 1788, the same year the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove. This makes it one of the very first Australian plants to be successfully cultivated in Europe. It was named by Dutch botanist George Voorhelm Schneevoogt in 1793 as Glycine rubicunda, based on plants growing in European collections, before being transferred to Kennedia by Etienne Pierre Ventenat in 1804.
How do kennedia rubicunda seeds disperse?
The seeds are dispersed by ants in a process called myrmecochory. Each seed bears a small, fatty, lipid-rich structure called an elaiosome attached to its outer surface. Ants are attracted to these elaiosomes as a food source. They carry the seeds back to their underground nests, eat only the elaiosome, and then discard the intact, undamaged seed underground or near the nest entrance, effectively planting it in a new location.
Is kennedia rubicunda invasive?
In its native range of eastern Australia it is not invasive. However, it has been introduced to Tasmania, India, and the North Island of New Zealand, where it has naturalised in some areas and is considered a weed. In New Zealand in particular it can spread into native bush and outcompete local vegetation. It should not be planted where it could escape into native bush in these regions.
What is the difference between kennedia rubicunda and hardenbergia violacea?
Both are Australian native legume vines with pea-shaped flowers, but they are quite distinct. Kennedia rubicunda has significantly larger flowers (30-40 mm) in a deep dusky red to crimson colour, a hairy rusty calyx, and trifoliate leaves with three leaflets. Hardenbergia violacea has much smaller flowers (about 10 mm) in violet, pink, or white with a yellow central spot, smoother calyces, and simple (single-leaflet) leaves. Hardenbergia flowers in late winter and early spring; Kennedia peaks in mid-spring.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
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