Q: What is this plant with brown seed pods that look like English pea pods?

A: Native plant expert Theresa Schrum says this is showy rattlebox, Crotalaria spectabilis. If you shake the dry pods you’ll immediately hear why it got its common name.

The plant is poisonous to livestock and for this reason it’s considered a weed, despite the bright yellow flowers..

My advice is to pull it up and destroy it.

Livestock Poisoning

Rattlebox pods

Rattlebox flower

Rattlebox seed