Fabaceae-Papilionaceae
Crotalaria laburnoides var. nudicarpa
H
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
Crotalaria laburnoides var. nudicarpa is an erect annual herb, typically growing 0.3–1.5 metres tall. It features three-foliolate leaves with oblong-elliptic to elliptic leaflets, and racemes of 8-24 yellow, pea-like flowers. A distinguishing characteristic of this variety is its glabrous (hairless) pods, which are oblong-clavate to subcylindrical.
Where it works in Kilifi
This variety is well-suited to the Kilifi coast, naturally occurring on beaches and sandy soils. It thrives in full sun and well-drained sandy conditions, making it suitable for coastal bushland restoration or as an annual specimen.
Growing notes
As an annual, this herb grows from seed. Like many Crotalaria species, it fixes nitrogen, improving soil health. Care should be taken as many species within the Crotalaria genus contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: jstor.org, ncsu.edu, wikipedia.org, tropseeds.com, earthone.io, biomedpharmajournal.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.