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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Fabaceae = Pea Family |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Templetonia retusa (Coral Bush) – A dense rounded shrub to 6 feet tall and wide with 1 to 1 1/2 inch long oblong gray-green leaves with a blunt tip. In winter into spring appear the 1 1/2 inch long rich red colored pea flowers at the branch tips with the wings and keel petals held upright and the large standard flared downwards. The flowers are followed in late summer by flattened dark brown pea pods. Plant in full sun to partial shade in a well-drained soil. Hardy to temperatures down to 20-22 °F. Coral Bush comes from areas with limestone soils and is generally tolerant of higher pH soils than many Australian plants and it also is resistant to salt spray near the beach. Prune or shear lightly after flowering to promote a more compact growth habit. An attractive and hardy plant in the California Garden. It is found growing naturally in coastal woodlands in South Australia and Western Australia. The name for the genus honors John Templeton (1766–1825), who is often referred to as the "Father of Irish Botany". The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'retusus' which means "dull" or "blunt" in reference to the blunt and often notched tips of the leaves. Other common names include "Cockies Tongues" and "Cocky's Tongues" though this reference is lost on us. Cocky was a somewhat derogatory slang name for a farmer that was an abbreviation of "cockatoo farmer". We first saw this plant growing at < href="https://www.seaside-gardens.com" target="_blank">Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria, California. The Australian plant garden at this nursery was designed and installed by Jo O'Connell of < href="https://www.australianplants.com" target="_blank">Australian Native Plant Nursery.
Information displayed on this page about Templetonia retusa is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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