Tephrosia apollinea Seeds | Apollinea Tephrosia
LATIN NAME: Tephrosia apollinea
COMMON NAME: Apollinea Tephrosia
Plant Profile
Tephrosia apollinea, commonly known as Apollinea Tephrosia, is a low, spreading shrub in the pea family. It likes sun, and light, well-drained soil. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the pea family, Tephrosia apollinea is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Frosted foliage of the Apollinea tephrosia gives it a recognised place in research on warm-desert shrubs of pea family, and apollinea species appears in studies of dry-ground survival and nitrogen-fixing roots. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Apollinea Tephrosia has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In dry, sunny garden, the Apollinea tephrosia frosts warm garden with silver leaves. Foliage lights border, roots hold loose soil, and pink flowers open for the bees. It grows well in light, well-drained, sunny ground. Given the right start, it carries on with minimal intervention.
Tephrosias are rotenone-bearing legumes used traditionally as fish poisons and insecticides; they are green manures and curiosities, never food.
Growing from Seed
Apollinea Tephrosia grows readily from seed. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Apollinea Tephrosia is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Moisture matters most while plants are young; established plants cope with far more.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Apollinea Tephrosia often pair it with these related subjects: