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The Australian All Black
The genus Kennedia is a group of Australian climbers consisting of 16 species with evergreen foliage and pea type flowers in a whole range of colours from pink, red and yellow to black.
Kennedia nigricans stands out from the crowd with its black pea flowers with a yellow centre.
A cultivated form with the name of Kennedia nigricans Minstrel has amazing black flowers with a white centre.
Even though the flowers are discreet, once spotted they never cease to amaze.
Propagation
They are easily grown from seed collected in the autumn or from cuttings taken in summer.
Due to the hard nature of the seed, it needs to be scarified to allow water to penetrate and aid germination.
This can be done by rubbing the seed on sandpaper to thin the outer coating or by pricking the seed with a pin or knife to make a very small hole.
Requirements
- Soil conditions: any free-draining soil.
- Light: needs full sun to establish, but will grow into dense shade.
- Flowering time: September and October.
Kennedia species can be seen at Dunedin Botanic Garden by the entrance to the aviary just below the upper car park.
Dylan Norfield is the Geographic and Arboretum Collection Curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
