Bladder senna
Colutea arborescens · Fabaceae
📷 No machine-readable author provided. Jeffdelonge assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around bladder senna and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June, yellow and orange flowers
- Mature size
- Up to 3 m tall and 2.5 m wide
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to -15°C
- Origin
- Mediterranean Basin and South-West Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained, undemanding
- Distinctive feature
- Decorative inflated bladder-shaped fruits/pods
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
The bladder tree loves heat and perfect drainage. Light, even poor and stony soil.
The common mistake
Giving it rich, moist soil: it becomes soft, grows too fast, stems stretch and bend.
The pro's trick
After flowering, prune the main branches lightly to maintain a compact shape.
Care
Sunlight
Place the bladder tree in full sun for generous flowering and optimal growth. It tolerates sunny and warm positions well. Light partial shade also works, but will reduce flowering.
Watering
Once established, this shrub is undemanding for water and tolerates drought well. Water regularly during the first two years after planting to promote rooting. In very hot summers, occasional watering is generally sufficient.
Soil
The bladder tree prefers well-drained soil and is undemanding regarding fertility. It tolerates poor, chalky, and even rocky soils. Avoid heavy or constantly wet soils that promote root rot.
Pruning and shaping
Prune lightly after flowering or in late winter to maintain a balanced and airy form. Remove dead or badly placed branches. Severe pruning is rarely necessary as the shrub renews naturally and regenerates well.
Fertilizing
No fertilizer is really necessary. This shrub, a member of the Fabaceae family, fixes atmospheric nitrogen thanks to root nodules. A light application of compost in spring can be enough to enrich the soil if it's very poor.
Diseases and pests
The bladder tree is generally very robust and rarely affected by common diseases. Occasionally watch for aphids and spider mites during prolonged dry spells. Good air circulation limits fungal problems.
Did you know?
The bladder tree gets its charming name from its characteristic fruits: papery, inflated pods that persist long on the shrub after the leaves fall, creating a decorative lantern-like effect. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, children exploited these vesicles to make snapping toys, hence some colorful regional names. In traditional phytotherapy, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin, various parts of the plant have been used, though caution is advised.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensis
- Common broomCytisus scoparius
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- Common PeaLathyrus oleraceus
- Honey locustGleditsia triacanthos
- Hairy greenweedGenista pilosa
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.