Lessertia frutescens aka Balloon Pea

Lessertia frutescens belongs to Fabaceae, the pea family. Another name is Sutherlandia frutescens. RHS calls it balloon pea or Cape bladder senna. It comes from southern Africa. Its range includes Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho. It grows in dry, sandy places with few plants. It also grows by roads and on disturbed ground.

Garden plants reach about 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres] tall. They spread 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Useful Tropical Plants gives heights of 1.6–5.6 feet [0.5–1.7 metres]. Plants may grow low and wide or stand upright. RHS says the leaves stay year-round. Useful Tropical Plants says they fall seasonally. Thin stems bear grey-green, pinnate leaves. These have narrow, oblong leaflets set along a central stalk. Bright red, pea-like flowers grow in racemes, or stalked clusters. Each bloom is about 0.1–0.16 feet [0.03–0.05 metres] long. Sunbirds carry pollen between blooms. Swollen pods with a pink tint then form. They reach 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] long. Their thin walls look almost clear. Dried pods keep their shape and colour for flower displays.

Give it full sun and soil that drains well. It grows in varied soils: acid, neutral or alkaline. Once plants take root, they can cope with drought. In pots, give moderate water while they grow. Keep compost just moist. Water less during winter rest. Under glass, use peat-free compost based on loam. Add sharp sand. Feed once a month while plants grow. Use a balanced liquid fertiliser. RHS rates it H2. It advises frost-free sites outdoors. Useful Tropical Plants reports brief survival near −5°C in good conditions. This needs fast drainage and wood ripened through warm summers.

This shrub grows fast but has a short life. It suits pots, patios and beds with shelter. RHS also suggests Mediterranean-style gardens and courtyards. Plants freely shed seed that sprouts into new plants. These can replace old shrubs. Root bacteria form nodules and fix nitrogen. Sow seeds in spring. In summer, take semi-hardwood cuttings from partly firm stems. Both methods need heat from below. Under glass, plants may need size control in late winter. RHS reports few diseases. It lists earwigs and glasshouse red spider mite as pests.

People in southern Africa have long used it in herbal care. They use its bitter leaves and stems in folk remedies. Reported uses for cancer and HIV do not prove treatment benefits. Cosmetics also use leaf extracts to help fight microbes. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known food uses or hazards. This does not prove that eating it is safe.