Calpurnia (plant)

Calpurnia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises shrubs or small trees in or along the margin of forests in the eastern parts of South Africa. They shed leaves in winter unless in moist areas, where they are evergreen. They make good garden plants because they are easily raised from seed, flower at two years and withstand frost.

The species Calpurnia aurea is also known as Wild Laburnum or Wildegeelkeur (in Afrikaans). The bright yellow flowers have the typical form of the Fabaceae (pea family). They are borne in racemes and flowering can take place over several months. The flowers are visited by carpenter bees, after which the pollintated flowers turn into thin, straw-colored pods.