Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa) is the floral emblem of South Australia, proclaimed in 1961. Renowned for its striking blood-red flowers with bold black centers, it grows naturally in Australia’s arid inland regions. The plant was named after explorer Charles Sturt, who recorded it in 1844. Symbolising resilience and survival in harsh environments, the Desert Pea stands as one of Australia’s most iconic wildflowers, admired for its dramatic beauty and cultural significance across Indigenous and settler histories.