Crotalaria cunninghamii, also known as green bird flower, bird flower ratulpo, parrot pea, or regal bird flower, is a plant of the legume family Fabaceae, named Crotalaria after the Greek word for rattle because their seeds rattle, and cunninghamii after early 19th-century botanist Allan Cunningham. Crotalaria cunninghamii is known as Mangarr to the Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous group.
Birdflower has strong resistance to disease and is typically not susceptible to illnesses. With regard to care, this plant is fairly low-maintenance. Planted outdoors, it needs little watering, and larger specimens usually do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they have finished blooming. Birdflowert is appropriate for anyone with an outdoor area, such as a garden or a deck, and does not call for much care experience.
How to keep Crotalaria Cunninghamii.
Light
Birdflower is native to open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest margins, which offer abundant light. It does best in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, showing good adaptability to different sunlight conditions.
Temperature
Birdflower comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. As a result, it is adapted to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and prefers a stable temperature environment, so avoiding indoor temperature fluctuations is important. It usually cannot withstand cold conditions and needs higher temperatures to grow. If the environmental temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.
Fertilizer
The best time to fertilize a Birdflower is in early spring, as it breaks dormancy. This encourages overall growth and flower development. Fertilization improves the foliage, stems, and branches, and promotes flowers that are larger, more vibrant, and longer-lasting. It helps transport nutrients from the roots to the blooms and enhances the plant's health and resistance to disease.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Crotalaria
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-11
- Mature Height
- 0 cm to 12 cm
- Mature Spread
- 0.91 m to 2.13 m
- Leaf Color
- Green, Gray
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- Green, Yellow, Purple
- Flower Size
- 2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Early fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Fall
Other names.
