Bladder Senna is a deciduous shrub that rewards gardeners with copper to brownish-red pea-like flowers in spring, followed by the variety's true showstopper: inflated, bladder-like seed pods that shift through shades of green, pink, bronze, and purple as they mature. Growing 6 to 10 feet tall and wide in hardiness zones 5 through 7, this hybrid shrub thrives on neglect, asking only for full sun and well-drained soil. The compound, bluish-green foliage and low maintenance requirements make it a fine choice for those seeking something genuinely different from typical spring-blooming shrubs.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-7
120in H x 120in W
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Moderate
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The inflated seed pods are the real draw here, creating an almost surreal sculptural quality in the garden long after the flowers fade. These 3-inch balloon-like structures shift color from green through pink to bronze and purple, giving the plant extended seasonal interest that most shrubs simply cannot match. Combine that with the ability to thrive in dry, poor soils and the sheer trouble-free nature of the plant, and you have a shrub that earns its space through performance rather than requiring constant fussing.
Bladder Senna serves primarily as an ornamental shrub, prized for its showy spring flowers and the remarkable papery seed pods that provide visual interest well into late summer and fall. The architectural quality of the inflated pods makes it valuable in contemporary gardens where textural contrast and unusual forms are appreciated.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune in late winter to early spring as needed to maintain the shrub's rounded habit and desired size. Light pruning keeps the plant tidy without compromising its natural form.
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“Colutea × media is a hybrid within the bladder senna genus, which takes its name from the Greek word for the distinctive inflated pods that follow flowering. The genus Colutea has been cultivated across temperate regions for centuries, valued for both ornamental effect and its ability to thrive in challenging conditions. This particular cross brings together the hardiness and adaptability that have made bladder sennas useful plants in European gardens and Mediterranean regions.”