Cleomella arborea var. arborea
Bladderpod
(c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · licence
Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cleomella arborea var. arborea (Bladderpod) is a native California shrub in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by unique shrub with obovoid inflated fruits.
Bladderpod is a California native shrub found in southern California, the southern Channel Islands, and the Peninsular Ranges in coastal scrub, grassland, and rocky slopes at elevations of 5 to 1,200 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces delicate flowers with pale yellow to white petals. Growing to 1 to 2 meters tall with multiple branching stems, the shrub forms an open, somewhat irregular shape. Its leaves are compound with small, green leaflets that provide a soft, textured appearance. The fruit is an distinctive obovoid pod that tapers to a short beak, giving the plant its common name of bladderpod.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; unique shrub with obovoid inflated fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, grassland, coastal scrub
Elevation: 5-1200 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Orange, Fresno
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cleomella arborea var. arborea blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Physaria: Physaria has inflated bladder-like pods and 4 petals; Cleomella has small flat round capsules and variable petals.; vs Astragalus: Astragalus has compound leaves and pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has palmately divided leaves and regular flowers.; vs Sesbania: Sesbania has pinnately compound leaves and large pea flowers; Cleomella has palmate leaves and small regular flowers.; vs Atriplex: Atriplex has tiny greenish flowers and simple leaves; Cleomella has showy flowers and palmately divided leaves.; vs Isocoma: Isocoma has yellow composite flower heads; Cleomella has individual flowers with separate petals and prominent stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleomella arborea var. arborea native to California?
Yes. Cleomella arborea var. arborea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella arborea var. arborea bloom?
Cleomella arborea var. arborea blooms All year.
Where in California does Cleomella arborea var. arborea grow?
Cleomella arborea var. arborea occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 5-1200 m.
What plant family does Cleomella arborea var. arborea belong to?
Cleomella arborea var. arborea is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
What habitat does Cleomella arborea var. arborea grow in?
Cleomella arborea var. arborea grows in Slopes, grassland, coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.