Alpine Bladderpod: A Hardy Native Wildflower for Adventurous Gardeners
If you’re looking to add a truly native touch to your garden with a plant that’s as tough as it sounds, meet the alpine bladderpod (Lesquerella alpina var. spatulata). This unassuming little perennial might not be the showiest flower in your garden center, but it’s got character and credentials that make it worth considering for the right gardening situation.
What Is Alpine Bladderpod?
Alpine bladderpod is a native North American perennial forb – essentially a non-woody flowering plant that comes back year after year. Don’t let the term forb intimidate you; it’s just botanist-speak for a herbaceous flowering plant that isn’t a grass or sedge. This hardy little plant belongs to the mustard family and has earned its place in the wild landscapes of both Canada and the United States.
Where Does It Call Home?
This resilient wildflower has quite the impressive native range, stretching across both sides of the US-Canada border. You’ll find alpine bladderpod growing naturally in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, as well as in Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota in the United States. That’s a pretty impressive territory for a plant that many gardeners have never heard of!
Should You Plant Alpine Bladderpod?
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit challenging. While alpine bladderpod gets major points for being a true native species with an impressive natural range, it’s also what you might call a specialist plant. This isn’t your typical garden center find, and there’s a reason for that.
The pros of growing alpine bladderpod include:
- It’s a genuine native species, supporting local ecosystems
- As a perennial, it comes back year after year once established
- It’s adapted to harsh conditions, making it potentially very low-maintenance
- You’ll have a unique conversation starter in your garden
The challenges, however, are significant:
- Very limited availability from nurseries or seed suppliers
- Specific growing requirements that aren’t well-documented for home gardens
- May be difficult to establish outside its natural habitat conditions
- Unknown ornamental value and garden performance
Growing Conditions and Care
Here’s where we hit a bit of a roadblock. While we know alpine bladderpod thrives in its natural range across the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions, specific cultivation information for home gardeners is quite scarce. This suggests the plant may have very particular soil, moisture, and climate requirements that make it challenging to grow outside its natural habitat.
Based on its name and natural distribution, we can make some educated guesses that it likely prefers:
- Well-draining soils (possibly alkaline, given its mustard family heritage)
- Full sun exposure
- Cool to cold winter temperatures
- Moderate to low water requirements once established
The Bottom Line
Alpine bladderpod represents one of those fascinating native plants that’s more of a botanical treasure than a garden staple. While its native credentials are impeccable and its hardiness impressive, the practical challenges of obtaining and successfully growing this plant make it better suited for specialized native plant enthusiasts or restoration projects rather than typical home landscapes.
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing native mustard family plants, consider more readily available alternatives like wild bergamot, purple prairie clover, or other native wildflowers that offer similar ecological benefits with better-known growing requirements and easier availability.
For the truly adventurous native plant gardener willing to do some detective work, alpine bladderpod could be a rewarding challenge – just be prepared for a bit of trial and error along the way!
