Smooth Rattlebox
Crotalaria pallida
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Meneerke bloem
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Crotalaria
- Species:
- Crotalaria pallida
- USDA Symbol:
- CRPA10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pulse pod borer (Etiella zinckenella)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Ornate moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- tolerates nutrient-poor conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Hard seed coat requires scarification (mechanical or hot water treatment) for best germination. Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions after treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI