Otholobium fruticans 1200x1200 1
Otholobium fruticans 1200x1200 1

Common names: Cape Town pea (English). 
Botanical name: Otholobium fruticans

Otholobium fruticans, known as the Cape Town pea, is a mat-forming groundcover or semi-shrub that produces beautiful sprays of purple-blue, pea-like flowers in spring. It is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, where it grows on steep, rocky slopes in mountain fynbos. It attracts honey bees and other pollinators, and is a resprouter that can survive fire. It has horticultural potential as a hanging basket plant, a filler, a groundcover, or a rockery plant. It prefers full sun to semi-shade, well-drained, acidic soils, and low doses of fertilizer. It can be propagated from seed or cuttings.

Uses & Benefits:

All Plant Profiles

Nature & Cultivation

Family: Fabaceae
Type: shrub
Vegetation type: Peninsula Shale Fynbos 
Flower colour: mauve, white
Flowering season: 
Plant-animal interactions: bees, butterflies
Red list status:

Light-level:
Soil type: 
Soil pH: 
Propagation: 

Use as Medicine

Safety:

Herbal traditions: 
Plant parts used: 

First-aid use:  
Medical use:  
Veterinary use:  

Plant qualities: 
Plant actions: 
Phytochemical constituents: 

Plant preparations: 

Related Products

Related Courses

No items found

Resources