Bladderpod Spiderflower

Scientific Name: Cleome isomeris Greene


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Dilleniidae / Capparales / Capparaceae / Cleome L./ Cleome isomeris Greene

Bladderpod Spiderflower
General Information
Usda SymbolCLIS
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubSubshrub,
Native LocationsCLIS

Plant Guide

Uses

Wildlife: It serves as a good wildlife plant for upland game, especially quail. It does provide some escape cover and shade for loafing areas and is a source of food. The pea-like seeds are taken readily by a variety of game and song birds. Ethnobotanical Uses: The Diegueno Indians used the seeds and flowers for food.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Caper Family (Capparaceae), Bladderpod is a native, erect, round, shrub four to six feet high and at least as wide, The leaves are alternate and trifoliate, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Bladderpod Spiderflower., The flowers, which are yellow with six stamens, bloom much of the year and are quite attractive, The seed pods are large, inflated and pendulous with only a few hard, smooth seeds with a prominent end curved,

Distribution

Bladderpod often grows in disturbed areas, and also on coastal bluffs, hills and desert washes. The shrub’s native distribution is southern California, Baja California, and Arizona from 200 to 3,000 feet in elevation. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Adaptation

This native plant is a desert type. In California, it occurs in San Luis Obispo County and in much of lower California, and in the vicinity of Tehachapi, as well as western Fresno and eastern Monterey counties. In the Bakersfield and Tehachapi regions, it can be found to an elevation of 4,000 feet. In cultivated plantings, it has been grown as far north as southern Butte County. It has a wide range of temperature tolerance from below freezing to over 100 degrees F. It is very drought tolerant. Little is known at this time about its adaptation to soils below a pH of 6. © J.S. Peterson @ plants.usda.gov

Establishment

The large seed germinates readily. It requires no treatment before planting. It may be direct seeded on a prepared seed bed in the fall to early spring at a rate of one pound of seed per acre. It should be planted no deeper than one inch. Direct seeding becomes progressively less successful as one moves north, because of competition from annual grasses. For best results with small plantings, the seed should be propagated in flats and the seedlings should be transplanted to gallon cans. Seedlings can be transplanted to the field in either the spring or fall.

Management

This shrub requires good weed control measures, such as hoeing, cultivating, and chemical control during the establishment period. Elimination of all weed competition on the planting site prior to direct seeding is essential for good stand establishment. Normally, the spring rains are sufficient to establish seedlings when directly seeded on deep soils. Potted plants will normally require some summer water depending on the locality. There is some difference of opinion as to whether bladderpod is susceptible to livestock damage. Generally, damage occurs only when animals are forced onto it by a lack of preferred feed.

Pests and Potential Problems

This shrub must have good weed control measures such as hoeing, cultivation, or by chemical control.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Seed may be collected easily from wild plants by stripping pods from plants and extracting seed. A limited amount of seed is normally available from the California Department of Fish and Game for wildlife plantings. Seed is also available from commercial seed collectors. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) ‘Dorado’ Cultivar- Dorado grows naturally on the desert soils and prefers a pH of 6.5 or higher. It is best adapted to the southern part of California up to elevations of 1,220m (4,000 feet), but several successful plantings have been made in the central and northern part of Sacramento Valley. Dorado has shown excellent performance as a conservation plant on critical areas, upland game cover and food, and for environmental enhancement on deep to moderately deep, medium to finely textured soils that are well-drained.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)2
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Frost Free Days, Minimum190
Hedge ToleranceMedium
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum9.5
pH, Minimum6.0
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim700
Precipitation, Maximum18
Precipitation, Minimum7
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)20
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

BloatMedium
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage TextureCoarse
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Nitrogen FixationMedium
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)5.0
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee5
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateNone
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Seed per Pound5000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodEarly Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialMedium
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Bladderpod Spiderflower

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