Family: Fabaceae Form: Shrub Origin: Native to South Africa Weed Type(s): Weed, Naturalised, Garden Escape, Environmental Weed

Photo: T. Rudman, DPIWE Tas

Notes: Blue psoralea is an evergreen shrub growing to about 5m tall. It has soft green pine-like leaves 30-50mm long. Flowers are purple with white wings and pea-like, often in dense clusters. These are followed by small pods each with a single dark brown seed.

The purple flowers and fast growth make it popular in home gardens. However hardiness and prolific seed production aid in its naturalisation and invasion of most vegetation types. Mass germination occurs after fire. It has many of the invasive characteristics of broom.

It is recorded as a weed in all states and commonly available in nurseries.

References:

Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
Csurhes, S. and Edwards, R. (1998). Potential Environmental Weeds in Australia. National Weeds Program, Environment Australia, Canberra.
Blood, K. (2001). Environmental Weeds. A Field Guide for S E Australia, C. H. Jerram & Associates-Science Publishers, Mt Waverley ,Victoria.