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Mountain Rattlepod

Crotalaria albida (kroh-tuh-LAIR-ee-uh AL-bi-da)

Family: Fabaceae Non-native Herbaceous

Rattlebox is an annual or short-lived perennial plant in the Fabaceae (bean) family. In its native habitat, it can be found growing in dry, deciduous and open forests, as well as in jungles and open grassland. It is native to tropical and subtropical Asia. It grows in the full sun in well-drained soils that range from moist to dry. Being a legume, its roots fix nitrogen some of which is used by the plants but some of which can also benefit neighboring plants. More information on Crotalaria .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 39 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Perennial; Weed
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblanceolate; Obovate
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Simple green leaves are oblanceolate, elliptic, or obovate with short or no stems. They are 2/3 to 1 inch long and less than 2/3 inch wide
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pea-like flowers form along the raceme. The back of the flowers have hairs.
Bloom time
Winter
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Legume less than 1 inch long with 6-12 seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Branches occur at the base of the stem occasionally along the stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical & Subtropical Asia
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Legume
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#yellow flowers #problem for horses #tropical feel #high maintenance #fast growing #weedy #short lived
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Horses; Weedy
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.