A beloved Australian vine with striking purple pea-flowers, traditionally brewed by Indigenous Australians as a soothing tea for coughs, colds and general wellbeing. Its early-season blooms support pollinators, and as a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves soil health. Hardy, beautiful, and rich in cultural history, Hardenbergia is a symbol of renewal and seasonal change.

Indigenous Uses

1. Herbal tea

One of the best-known traditional uses of Hardenbergia:

• Leaves and stems were boiled to make a sweet, slightly earthy herbal tea

• Drunk for general wellbeing

• Sometimes combined with lemon myrtle, mint, or wattle leaves

This tea is still used today as a bush medicine and bush-tucker beverage.

2. Medicinal uses

Indigenous Australians used Hardenbergia tea traditionally for:

• Coughs and colds

• Sore throats

• Digestive discomfort

• General fatigue

• Enhancing overall vitality

This is where the name “False Sarsaparilla” comes from — it echoes the invigorating sarsaparilla root drinks of other cultures.

3. Roots – occasionally used

The roots of Hardenbergia were sometimes chewed or infused:

• As a mild tonic

• For strengthening after illness

• Similar to the better-known Smilax species (true sarsaparilla)

Not all communities used the root, but it was known in several regions.

4. Fibre uses (limited but present)

The vine’s wiry young stems were occasionally used for:

• Light tying

• Temporary binding of tools

• Small weaving tasks (usually mixed with stronger fibres)

Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore

1. A herald of late summer and early autumn

The explosion of purple pea-flowers was (and still is) a seasonal marker:

• Signalling the end of hot weather

• Indicating early autumn foraging times

• Marking the shift in insect activity

It’s often associated with transition, change, and renewal.

2. A plant of celebration

Its dramatic flowering made it a favourite plant for:

• Welcoming visitors

• Decorative use around camps

• Teaching children about seasonal cycles

The purple carpets it forms are still beloved today.

3. A sign of healthy bushland

Hardenbergia tends to flourish in:

• Open eucalypt woodland

• Light, well-drained soils

• Areas with consistent ecological balance

Where it grows abundantly, it signals healthy understorey and good soil structure.

4. A gentle companion plant

Many Elders describe Hardenbergia as a “companion vine”:

• It grows with other plants without smothering them

• Provides early-spring colour

• Supports insects that in turn pollinate food plants

• Symbolises cooperation and harmony within the landscape

Modern Uses

1. Herbal tea (very popular)

A renewed interest in native teas has made Hardenbergia a favourite:

• Leaves dried for tea blends

• Added to wellness teas

• Used for café and eco-tourism infusions

The flavour is earthy, sweet, and mild.

2. Ornamental landscaping

One of Australia’s most loved natives for gardens:

• Purple (or pink/white) pea-flowers

• Masses of colour in late summer and autumn

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance

• Works as:

  • A vine

  • A groundcover

  • A small shrub (when pruned)

Perfect for pathways, fences, arbours, and revegetation.

3. Pollinator attractor

Hardenbergia is excellent for:

• Native bees

• Blue-banded bees

• Hoverflies

• Early-season butterfly activity

The flowers provide nectar at a time when few other native plants bloom heavily.

4. Revegetation and soil health

Ideal for:

• Stabilising banks

• Understorey restoration

• Erosion control

• Bringing early colour back to degraded bushland

Forms a protective ground layer while larger plants establish.

Ecological Importance

Pollination

Flowers attract:

• Bees

• Wasps

• Beetles

• Butterflies

Makes Hardenbergia an important early-season food source for insects.

Soil improvement

As a legume, Hardenbergia:

• Fixes nitrogen

• Improves soil fertility

• Supports the regeneration of surrounding species

Habitat & shelter

The vine structure provides:

• Shelter for small reptiles

• Nesting material for birds

• Protective cover for insects

Fire ecology

• Recoverable from rootstock

• Returns quickly after low–moderate burns

• Contributes to early post-fire stabilisation of the soil.