Daviesia horrida

Daviesia horrida is a shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its native range lies in south-western Australia. Kew places it in the subtropical climate zone. The RHS lists the common name hop bitter pea. It also marks the plant’s name as unresolved. This means its naming status needs care when comparing records. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future gives its height as 5.2 feet [1.6 metres]. The supplied records give no figure for its spread. They describe it in open forests, on hills and mountains. It can form dense scrub in these settings. Recorded ground types include basalt, Silurian substrates and red sand. These habitat notes give some context for its garden placement. The sources give no details of bark, stems or leaves. They also provide no flower colour, bloom season or fruit description. Plants For A Future describes its flowers as having both male and female organs.

For cultivation, Plants For A Future lists sun and partial shade. It suggests a sunny edge in a woodland garden. The plant prefers moist soil, rather than a dry site. The same source lists sand, loam and clay as suitable. Its stated pH range spans mildly acid to mildly alkaline soil. These notes suggest scope for more than one garden soil type. They do not establish a need for one narrow soil mix.

Cold tolerance needs care when planning a planting site. Plants For A Future reports survival near 19°F [−7°C] in Australian gardens. Yet it recommends cool greenhouse conditions for growing in Britain. It also lists USDA zones 8–11. These broad ratings should be read alongside the greenhouse guidance. Seed is the only propagation method named in the evidence. The records give no growth rate or pruning method. They also identify no specific pests or diseases.

Plants For A Future records no known edible uses. It also lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. Historical medicinal uses include treatment for fever and intestinal worms. The source also records use as a tonic. These are reported uses, not evidence of safe or effective treatment. A note mentions use in place of hops, but questions its purpose. It therefore gives no clear basis for treating the plant as food.