PlantFiles: Canary Bird Bush, Rattlebox
Crotalaria agatiflora

Botanica Encyclopedia
CROTALARIA - Rattlebox
This large genus of legumes consists of around 600 species, occurring in most warmer regions of the world but with the great majority confined to Africa and Madagascar. They include annuals as well as evergreen perennials, subshrubs and shrubs. The leaves are simple, or compound with 3 leaflets and the flowers are of the pea-type, from medium-sized to quite large and mostly yellow to greenish yellow. The hard, inflated seed pods are a distinctive feature of the genus, with loose rattling seeds at maturity that give them their common name--- when the seeds have dried out they rattle inside the pods.
CULTIVATION:
They are nearly all frost-tender plants and need a sheltered location in full sun and moderately rich, well-drained soil. Pruning after flowering will keep them compact and encourage a second blooming. Propagate from pre-soaked seed or from tip cuttings in spring or summer.
CROTALARIA AGATIFLORA - Canary-Bird Bush, Bird Flower
Native to upland areas of eastern Africa, this shrub of rather open habit is grown for its elegant, large greenish-yellow pea-flowers that appear from spring to fall on ascending spikes. It has pale green leaves with 3 leaflets and grows to a height of 10-12' and a spread of about 8'. The common names refer to the flowers' resemblance, before they open fully, to small birds perched on twigs.
ZONES: 10-12

10-

Just got this plant from City Farmers off Home Ave. Not much experience with this but LOVED the way it blooms - like a yellow erythrina. Anyone here have any experience with it in a coastal exposure? Would love to use it in future designs.