Colutea arborescens aka Bladder Senna

Taxonomy

Colutea arborescens, also known as bladder-senna, is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 12 feet high and has a bushy habit with copious branching. The plant is native to Europe and North Africa, but it can also be found on other continents where it is grown as an ornamental and used in landscaping for erosion control. The leaves of C. arborescens are 3 to 6 inches long, with nine to thirteen elliptic or broadly obovate leaflets that are hairy beneath when young, but become nearly or quite glabrous with age. The plant blooms pea-shaped, yellow flowers that are about 3/4 inch long on a downy stalk that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. The flowers are carried in racemes that are axillary on the current season's growth, with three to seven flowers towards the end. The wing-petals are shorter than the keel, and the calyx is cup-shaped with triangular lobes. The inflated and bladder-like pod of C. arborescens is about 3 inches long, 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, and pointed, containing many seeds. This plant prefers full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types. It is quite aggressive and is considered weedy in some areas.

Common names

Bladder Senna, Bastard Senna, Common Bladder Senna

How to care for Bladder Senna

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Bladder Senna is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Bladder Senna should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Bladder Senna prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Dormancy

During the cold period, it is common for Bladder Senna to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.

Toxicity

Ploi lacks confirmed information on the toxicity of this plant. If you, a relative, or your pet accidentally consume plant material with unknown toxicity, it's best to consult a medical expert.

Region of origin

Bladder Senna’s native range is S. Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain[17].


More info:
Wikipedia