Colutea arborescens, commonly known as bladder-senna, is a deciduous shrub native to a range of habitats including dry, rocky places and open woodlands across Europe as well as North Africa. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide, with a rounded habit and pale green, pinnate leaves. From late spring to early summer, it produces small, pea-like yellow flowers that are moderately showy, followed by distinctive, inflated, bladder-like seed pods that persist into the fall and can add visual interest to the garden.

Bladder-senna is valued for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a useful plant for erosion control on slopes and in xeriscaping. It is also planted as an ornamental in gardens for its unique fruit and bright flowers. Bladder-senna prefers full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. It is relatively low maintenance, requiring little water once established, and can be propagated by seed or softwood cuttings. While generally pest-free, it can occasionally suffer from leaf spot diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0