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Native Plant Database

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Lesquerella fendleri (Fendler's bladderpod)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) S. Wats.

Fendler's bladderpod, Fendler’s bladderpod, Popweed

Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

USDA Symbol: LEFE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Yellow flowers in loose short racemes at stem ends of a low, rather tightly tufted, silvery-gray perennial; plant surfaces covered with tiny, star-like scales. Fendler’s bladderpod is a upright or sprawling, hairy plant, 1-16 in. high. Several stems, usually branched, form tufts or clumps. The plant appears silvery-gray. Bright yellow, 1 in. flowers in are loosely arranged in elongating terminal spikes. The small, round fruiting pods stand erect.

This is one of the earliest plants to flower in its area; its bright yellow is conspicuous against the drab ground of early spring. In the same region is the similar but annual Gordons Bladderpod (L. gordonii), which has several slender stems that lie on the ground, turning up at the tips; unlike Fendlers Bladderpod, it is not tufted and has a more open appearance.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , KS , NM , OK , TX , UT
Native Distribution: W. KS to UT, s. to n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Plains & mesas; 4000-7000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, sandy or rocky, calcareous soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay Caliche type, Limestone-based, Calcareous
Conditions Comments: One of the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring. Spikes of golden flowers are showy against the barren areas where in naturally occurs.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Rock gardens, Rocky hillside, Color
Use Medicinal: Tea used as a remedy for spiderbites. (Weiner)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0509 Collected Apr 11, 1992 in Kendall County by Lottie Millsaps
NPSOT 0152 Collected Mar. 3, 1991 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

Bibliography

Bibref 1207 - Earth Medicine, Earth Food (1990) Michael A. Weiner
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Lesquerella fendleri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lesquerella fendleri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lesquerella fendleri

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-05-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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