About Coronilla valentina L.
Coronilla valentina, commonly called shrubby scorpion-vetch, smokebush, scorpion vetch or bastard senna, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Coronilla of the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean Basin, and has been introduced into Kenya and the United States. It is an evergreen shrub that grows to 80 cm (31 in) tall and wide, with pea-like foliage and fragrant, brilliant yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer, followed by slender pods. Linnaeus observed that the flowers, which are remarkably fragrant in the daytime, are almost scentless at night. In cultivation, it is fairly hardy, but prefers Mediterranean conditions, with shelter and warm sunshine. The subspecies C. valentina subsp. glauca (synonym C. glauca) and its cultivar 'Citrina' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, confirmed in 2017.
