Description

Coast bladderpod is one of California’s best native plants for the garden. It grows vigorously as an open rounded shrub to about six feet. The compound leaves are waxy and gray, displaying well against the slightly furrowed silver bark. The leaves produce a light scent which elicits mixed reactions. The branch structure is intricately twisted. Yellow flowers appear in bunches all year. This is the only plant I have found that is reliably blooming on January 1 here in San Jose. The flowers give way to the pendent little “bladder” of seeds which cover the plant continuously. Excess seed production is the only thing that can keep the bladderpod from blooming, so remove a few handfuls of pods once a week or so. For whatever reason, honey bees are particularly attracted to this plant and a dozen can be found on it whenever the air temperature allows bees to fly. Coast bladderpod responds quite well to pruning. I recommend thinning the plant somewhat to reveal the attractive torsional structure. It can actually be trained to look like a compact ever-flowering tree. Coast bladderpod is adaptable to a variety of soils and watering schedules. Mine is naturalized (no supplemental irrigation) in full sun and just blooms and blooms.