Swainsona formosa (G.Don) Joy Thomps.

A trailing annual herb. They are 50 cm high. It can spread 1-4 m across. The leaves are grey-green. They have dense hairs. The leaves are divided into 3 soft oval segments 3 cm long. The flowers are bright red with black at the centre. They are pea like. The fruit are leathery pods which are hairy. These are 6 cm long. As they ripen they have two rolled sides. There are several seeds in each side.

It grows in warm temperate and arid or semiarid places. It needs well drained soil. It needs full sun. It can stand light frosts. It grows in a Mediterranean climate. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.