Bastard Senna Citrina

Despite its rather unattractive common name, Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca Citrina is a real charmer, perfect for a sheltered, sunny site in a small garden. It’s a small, evergreen, Mediterranean shrub with a dense, rounded habit and divided, almost fern-like, blue-grey leaves, a lovely foil to the flowers. This little shrub bears small, pale lemon-yellow to creamy-yellow flowers in February and March, and occasionally again in late summer; these have a lovely, rather peachy fragrance, and are followed by little, slender pods. This plant can also be trained against a warm, sunny wall. Bastard senna Citrina holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any light, well-drained soil; tolerates chalky soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: All year, late winter and early spring in particular
Hardiness: Hardy in average winters (to -10C); may suffer in severe winters
Height: 39 (1m) Spread: 39 (1m), sometimes a little taller and wider