Fishpoison
Tephrosia purpurea
Also known as: narrowleaf hoarypea
- Native to:
- Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hainan, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sinai, Society Is., Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tubuai Is., Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Tephrosia
- Species:
- Tephrosia purpurea
- USDA Symbol:
- TEPU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, pink
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in poor, degraded soils
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from scarification (nicking or hot water treatment) to break hard seed coat.