# Bacon and Eggs (Gastrolobium capitatum)

Australian native seed packet from Native Seed Co.

- Price: A$11.00 per 1 packet, AUD incl. GST
- Availability: in stock
- Shop page: https://www.nativeseedco.org/product/502
- SKU: NSC-502
- Packet contents: approx. 100 seeds
- Not posted to: SA, VIC, NSW, TAS — Contains fluoroacetate (1080). Toxic to livestock. Restricted outside its native range (Western Australia).

Bacon and Eggs is a low, spreading plant with cheerful yellow and red pea-like flowers that bloom in spring. Its soft green leaves set off the bright blooms, which draw in bees and small insects.

Bacon and Eggs (Gastrolobium capitatum) is a charming Australian native that gets its common name from the distinctive yellow and red coloring of its pea-like flowers. This low-growing, spreading shrub creates a delightful carpet of color when in bloom during spring.

## Growing specifications

- Origin: South-west of Western Australia
- Form: shrub (short-lived perennial); height 30–60 cm; spread up to 1 m
- Sun: full sun or part shade
- Soil: sandy, gravel
- Drought tolerance: high
- Frost: light frost only
- Coastal / salt tolerant: no
- Suited climates: mediterranean
- Flowering season: spring
- Sowing season: autumn, spring
- Germination: 14–28 days
- Seed pre-treatment: hot water soak
- Attracts: native bees
- Garden uses: groundcover, rockery, native border
- Notes: Foliage is toxic to livestock, so this species cannot be sold to SA, VIC, NSW or TAS. Best kept to its native Western Australia.

## Highlights

- Cheerful yellow and red pea-like flowers in spring
- Low, spreading habit perfect for ground cover
- Attracts bees and beneficial insects
- Hardy and drought tolerant once established

## How to sow

1. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours to improve germination rates.
2. Sow seeds in spring or autumn in a well-draining seed-raising mix.
3. Lightly cover seeds with fine soil, approximately 3-5mm deep.
4. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during germination (14-28 days).
5. Transplant seedlings when they have developed several true leaves.
6. Plant in a sunny to partly shaded position with excellent drainage.

## Care

- Plant in full sun or dappled shade with free-draining soil.
- Space plants 50-100cm apart to allow for natural spread.
- Water regularly during establishment, then only in extended dry spells.
- Avoid phosphorus fertilizers - use native plant fertilizers if needed.
- Light pruning after flowering helps maintain compact growth.

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