Sturt’s Desert Pea

One of Australia’s most spectacular and unique native species, the vibrant, scarlet desert pea (swainsona formosa), with its glossy black centre and soft grey-green leaves often grows in the brick-red soil of the vast outback, creating a spectacular carpet of vivid colour that can last many months.

Depicted here using surface embroidery and stumpwork, each growth stage; bud, flower and seed pod, is meticulously re-created with thread and wire in this fabulous plant study.