Plant of the Month – April
0-
Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
- Plant Form: Evergreen shrub
- Water Use: Very Low
- Mature Size: 4-6 feet tall & wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Year-round; heaviest bloom Feb – June
- Native to: California (between 200 – 6,000 feet)
- Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 25°F
A resilient, low-water evergreen shrub, Bladderpod delights with cheerful yellow blooms throughout the year and distinctive balloon-shaped seedpods. Native to California’s deserts, this underused landscaping gem attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, making it an excellent choice for borders or filler plantings.
Bladderpod is a hardy, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub with lacy gray-green leaves. This relative of capers produces showy, yellow flowers year-round with only occasional water. Bladderpod derives its name from its seed pods that are shaped like small balloons or inflated “bladders”, which enclose this plant’s pea-like fruit. This underappreciated native of both high and low deserts of California makes a great border or filler and is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. The bright, all-season flowers more than make up for its odd-smelling leaves. Prefers well-draining soil. Avoid overwatering in summer, when it is normally dormant in the wild. Bladderpod is easily grown from seed sown directly in place.
Comments