Cape bladder senna, duck plant
Sutherlandia frutescens
An evergreen shrub with slender stems bearing pinnate, grey-green leaves with narrowly oblong leaflets, and racemes of bright red, pea-like flowers 3-5cm in length, followed by pink-tinged, bladdery seed capsules to 5cm in length
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost with added sharp sand, in full light. During growth, water moderately, keeping the compost just moist and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter or during the dormant season. Can be grown outdoors in a frost-free, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun. Dry soils are tolerated
Propagate by seed sown at 15°C in spring or strike semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, both with bottom heat
Pruning group 8. May require restrictive pruning in late winter when grown under glass
May be susceptible to earwigs and glasshouse red spider mite
Generally disease-free