Scientific Name: Hardenbergia violacea

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  • Pronunciation:
    har-den-BERGE-ee-ah vie-ah-LACE-ee
  • Common Name:
    Native Sarsaparilla, False Sarsaparilla Vine
  • Type:
    Vine - scrambles over low vegetation
  • Family:
    FABACEAE
  • Flowers:
    Purple in racemes, spring, summer
  • Fruit:
    Pods
  • Vegetation Type:
    Wallum Woodland
  • Species List:
    Landcare Display Garden, Bush food, NLTalks2010, Cooroibah Airstrip, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, NNP Parkedge/Alex, Fraser Island, Cranks Creek, Batianoff 87, Noosa North Shore PS TAFE BHNR Marcus Dunes, NNS,Emu Mt.,
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Bush food. Sarsaparilla-tasting leaves used as tea substitute by early settlers.

Purple flowers eaten raw.

Bush medicine: tonic drink

Identification Notes

Leaf 1-3 foliolate, alternate.||

Associated Fauna

Butterfly host plant: Common grass blue.

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list . Suitable plant for appropriate soil type (see Vegetation type). Vigorous climber or scrambling vine for average to well-drained situations. Ideal for covering logs or embankments. Sun, part shade.||Successfully propagated by Coolum Community Native Nursery.||Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery.||Featured in Noosa Landcare Display Garden at Pomona||Successfully propagated by Barung Landcare||