Bladderpod

Isomeris arborea

Description

Bladder pod is a small to medium size evergreen shrub with a mounding growth habit, 4-6 ft. tall and as wide. Foliage has pale green color and is comprised of small palmately compound leaves that release a pungent odor when crushed. Terminal clusters of dull yellow flowers provide a showy display in early spring and are followed by the growth of 1-2 in. long inflated seed capsules.

Bladder pod has a remarkable natural range in California where it occurs in coastal, valley and desert climate zones. It is a tough and durable plant that is commonly grown for restoration projects and in native plant gardens. Flowers are attractive during spring and are visited by hummingbirds. In ornamental landscapes and gardens it will grow faster and look better when provided with low amounts of supplemental water during summer.

Plant Type: Native, Shrub
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Mounding
Growth Rate: Fast
Foliage Color: Pale green
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Fragrant foliage, Attracts butterflies, Wildlife value, Restoration, Flowering accent plant
Height: 4 ft. – 6 ft.
Width: 4 ft. – 6 ft.

Watering Schedule: Low 1

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply every 3-4 weeks after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least another 3-4 weeks. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
If you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, it is best not to use the automatic weather adjusting features for plants in this category. While very useful for watering higher water demanding plants, those in this category have natural drought adaptations which mean they do not need to be watered more in warm weather. Using the weather adjusting features will result in either overwatering in summer or underwatering in fall and spring.
It is important to group plants with the same water needs together in the landscape to avoid needing to over or under water plants when running your irrigation system.