Kennedia prostrata

RHS Plant Profile

running postman

RHS

Other common names

coral creeper, scarlet runner

Conservatory Greenhouse

A ground-hugging trailer with softly hairy stems radiating from a woody rootstock. The evergreen leaves are made up of three leathery, wavy-margined leaflets and the flowers, which appear in spring, summer and sometimes autumn, are bright red and pea-like

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Trailing
Genus: Kennedia can be herbaceous or woody, twining climbers with trifoliate leaves and pea-like flowers which may be solitary, in pairs, umbels or racemes in the leaf axils
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

In frost-free areas grow outdoors in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, with shelter from cold drying winds. Alternatively grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost with added sharp sand in bright, filtered light. Good in hanging baskets

Propagation

Propagate by seed or from softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 12

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility