Crotalaria capensis - Cape rattlebox
Family Fabaceae
Description:
About 600 species of Crotalaria are native to the world's tropics and subtropics, mostly in Africa. A few species are native to Florida. A few introduced species are weedy. These plants grew from seeds from South Africa. As of 2006, these plants have not set fruit.
The Cape rattlebox is native to South Africa. Gray-green leaves are divided into three leaflets. It bears an abundant crop of one-inch, bean-like, yellow flowers in winter and spring.
Location:
See this plant at the southwest corner of building 45.
Size:
A large shrub or small tree to about ten feet tall.
Care Instructions:
Light: full sun
Water: very drought tolerant
Soil: a well-drained soil, no other special requirements
This is a new introduction to north Florida and may not be available in nurseries. The plant had some stem damage following winter lows around the mid-20's F.