This shrubby pea is displaying brilliant yellow flowers on the Mediterranean Beds.
The genus Coronilla originates from Europe and North Africa, and contains approximately 20 species of annuals, perennials and shrubs. This species, C. emerus (syn. Hippocrepis emerus), is a native of temperate zones of central and southeastern Europe, where it grows in open woodland and hillsides. It is a deciduous shrubby species with delicate pinnate leaves, and umbels of one to eight flowers, whose form is typical of the Fabaceae (pea family), having two wings (or lateral petals) and a banner or standard (hooded upper petal). In this species the back of the banner has a distinctive red colouring. The common name ‘scorpion senna’ refers to the slender seed pods which resemble scorpion tails.