Sturt's Desert Pea Plant Care
Oxypetalum coeruleum (D.Don ex Sweet) Decne.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Oxypetalum coeruleum is a species of flowering plant, native to South America from southern Brazil to Uruguay. The synonymous name Tweedia caerulea is also used.
Bright indirect light
At a glance
How do you care for Sturt's Desert Pea?
Sturt's Desert Pea grows best in bright indirect light. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Sturt's Desert Pea Native To?
What Is the Sturt's Desert Pea?
Sturt's Desert Pea (Oxypetalum coeruleum) belongs to the Apocynaceae family within the Oxypetalum genus. Sturt's Desert Pea is native to South America from southern Brazil to Uruguay. Sturt's Desert Pea is also known as Blue Milkweed.
Sturt's Desert Pea displays a vining, twining habit growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Sturt's Desert Pea produces star-shaped blue flowers with a white center.
What Light Does the Sturt's Desert Pea Need?
Sturt's Desert Pea thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Sturt's Desert Pea in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect light
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Sturt's Desert Pea?
Well-draining, fertile soil with added perlite for improved drainage. Good drainage is essential for Sturt's Desert Pea to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Sturt's Desert Pea?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Sturt's Desert Pea?
Sturt's Desert Pea can be propagated through stem cuttings, air layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to oxypetalum dactylostelma plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Sturt's Desert Pea Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Sturt's Desert Pea?
Sturt's Desert Pea is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Sturt's Desert Pea is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Oxypetalum genus — compare its care with other Oxypetalum species on PlantoScan.
Oxypetalum is part of the Apocynaceae plant family — browse all Apocynaceae genera and species.
Sturt's Desert Pea thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Oxypetalum coeruleum (D.Don ex Sweet) Decne., family Apocynaceae (first published in Prodr. 8: 585 (1844)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Sturt's Desert Pea is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Sturt's Desert Pea Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species