Crotalaria verrucosa
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Crotalaria verrucosa

Blue-flower rattlepod · Blue rattlesnake · Purple Popbush · Blue Rattleweed · Blue Rattle-box

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 9–11
Click count
36
Observations
50

Description

Source: leafsnap

Crotalaria verrucosa, the blue rattlepod, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. This shrub belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. The herb found in Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australasia and Africa and Americas regions. Crotalaria verrucosa is a perennial shrub that grows to about 50 to 100 cm in height.

Care Guide

💧 Water

Native to tropical regions, the blue rattlepod thrives in consistently moist soil. To prevent waterlogging, it needs to be watered twice a week. In outdoor settings, mulching is beneficial as it helps retain moisture during hot weather, ensuring that the plant remains well-hydrated while being planted in well-draining soil.

☀️ Light Full sun

Blue rattlepod comes from bright, open habitats where it thrives in full sun. It can tolerate partial sun but favors direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is known for its sun-loving nature.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Blue rattlepod comes from tropical areas, where the climate is usually warm and humid. As a result, it is well-suited to high heat and moisture. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and favors a steady thermal environment, so it is important to avoid indoor temperature swings. It generally cannot endure cold and needs warmer conditions to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

When most of Blue rattlepod's flowers have opened to full size, resume fertilizing. At the height of bloom production, feed the plant every three to four weeks, weather permitting. Once Blue rattlepod begins producing fewer new flowers, stop fertilizing; there's no need to apply fertilizer when the plant can no longer produce additional blooms.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Blue rattlepod, known for its striking blue flowers, benefits from pruning in early to mid-spring to promote optimal growth. To enhance the plant's health, remove any dead branches and shape it to improve airflow and sunlight exposure. Regular pruning helps prevent disease, encourages abundant flowering, and boosts the plant's vigor. For the best results, use clean and sharp tools.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Annual
Genus
Crotalaria
Family
Fabaceae
Hardiness Zone
9-11
Mature Height
49 cm to 91 cm
Mature Spread
0.91 m to 1.83 m
Leaf Color
Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Blue, Purple
Flower Size
2.54 cm
Bloom Time
Summer, Fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall, Early winter
Native Area
Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Laos, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Thailand

Tags (6)

Common Names (15)

en Blue-flower rattlepod
en Blue rattlesnake
en Purple Popbush
en Blue Rattleweed
en Blue Rattle-box
en Blue Rattlepod
en Blue-Flowered Rattlepod
en Cascavelle á Fleurs Bleues
en Purple Rattlebox
en Sweet Pea
en Tooth-Leaved Rattlepod
en Warty Crotalaria
en Warty Rattlebox
en Blue Andana
en గిలిగిరింత