Kennedia rubicunda
NPPA pest plant
Environmental Weed (2024)
Common names
dusky coral-pea
Family
Fabaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Lianes & Related Trailing Plants - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. In sun and semi-shade on sandstone soils.
Detailed description
Large vigorous vine. Oval leaves in threes with brown hair on lower surface to 65 mm. Dull red pea type flowers 35 x 15 mm. Pea-like pods 50-100mm.
Similar taxa
Can be separated from other climbing Fabaceae by the dull dark red flowers.
Flowering
August, September, October, November, December
Flower colours
Red/Pink
Fruiting
Spring-Summer
Life cycle
Perennial. Reproduces by seeds, cuttings. Birds, water, gravity.
Year naturalised
1981
Origin
E. Australia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of 386 environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.
Taxonomic notes
Grows naturally in poor sand stone country but does well in high fertility soil. Tolerates dry conditions. Damaged by heavy frosts (T. McCluggage pers com).