Sturt Desert Pea
- Overland Adventures
- Nov 7, 2022
- 2 min read
What is the Sturt desert pea you ask? It's a little red flower found in dry arid places around Australia.
It looks like a long pea shape, some would say a mini canoe with a round dark spot in the middle. Sturt's desert pea is renowned for its unique red blossom with a narrow tip. This easily-recognized wildflower is the floral emblem of South Australia, but it is distributed across the arid interior regions of Australia. On a good year of weather, we may see the pea flowers pop up around Broken Hill, Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs, and on a really good year of rain, by September - October you will see almost like a field of them spreading around their beautiful colour.
The recent rains of 2022 (la nina year) have resulted in lots of Stuart Peas in bloom all around the outback. Many are on nature strips all about Broken Hill, randomly popping up out of nowhere! Many have been spotted on the sides of the road to Tiboburra, about 100km out on the Silvercity Highway. Also, many large patches have been observed between Broken Hill and Menindee roads.
We see people stopping off at the sides of the road, and walking into some paddocks to capture a photo as its a usually a rare sight to be seen!
Sturt's desert pea, one of Australia's most well-known desert wildflowers, is distributed throughout Australia's inland arid regions, including far west New South Wales. Sturt's desert pea, one of the most recognisable Australian native plants, grows on red sandy soil, or loam, and bears bright red leaf-shaped flowers with a black 'boss' in the centre.
The genus Swainsona was named after the English botanist Isaac Swainson. The plant was given its common name in honour of Charles Sturt, a British explorer of Australia.
This native plant can generate stems up to 2 metres in length. It typically blooms from June to March, however, flowering is dependent on seasonal precipitation.
Another reason to come out towards Broken Hill NSW to see the Outback in bloom. It's a magnificent sight to see, and often the best time.
The article paints a vivid, grounded portrait of one of Australia’s most striking native flowers. It explains how soil, climate, and form combine to shape the desert pea’s bold colours, adding ecological depth to its visual appeal. The description feels both informative and evocative. Overall, it reads smoothly, even beside everyday contrasts like The Pokies — how do https://www.postbank.co.nz/ seasonal shifts affect its bloom?
The heavy La Niña rains of 2022 have triggered widespread Stuart Pea blooms across the outback. Flowers are appearing on nature strips in Broken Hill and along highways toward Tiboburra and Menindee. A Royal Reels highlights this rare burst of colour across the region.
Sturt’s desert pea has a distinctive long, pea-like shape with a dark centre and vivid red blossom. As South Australia’s floral emblem, it appears across Australia’s arid interior, creating spectacular fields https://www.gfme.co.nz after good rain near places like Broken Hill. These natural displays are treasured by locals and visitors alike, a beauty often celebrated by Golden Crown.
Sturt’s desert pea is instantly recognisable by its long, pea-like shape and striking red flower with a dark central spot. As South Australia’s floral emblem, it grows across Australia’s arid interior. In good seasons, blooms appear around Broken Hill, Menindee, Wilcannia, and White https://www.nogod.org.nz Cliffs, while heavy rain can create vivid fields of colour by spring. Supporting regional tourism and conservation efforts, alongside simple administration and transactions managed through Payid, helps preserve appreciation for native wildflowers and the landscapes they define.