Araujia sericifera

Bladderflower

Family: Apocynaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Bladderflower is a naturalized perennial vine found in coastal California regions including southern Coastal Range, Southern California, Western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and woodland habitats, particularly citrus groves, at elevations of 100 to 400 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces white flowers in bell- or funnel-shaped corollas 2 to 3 centimeters long with distinctive elongate pistil lobes. Growing with soft, tomentose stems that can reach up to 12 meters in length, it forms a climbing or sprawling vine. Its leaves are 5 to 12 centimeters long, smooth on the upper surface and densely puberulent underneath, with petioles longer than 1 centimeter. The plant produces large fruits 10 to 12 centimeters long, characteristic of its distinctive bladder-like appearance.

Habitat: Chaparral, woodland, especially citrus groves

Bloom period: Aug-Oct

Elevation: 100-400 m

Bioregions: CCo, s SCoRO, SCo, WTR, PR (exc SnJt)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.