Senna hebecarpa & Senna marilandica – Wild Senna – 1-Quart

These two species are so similar they can be described in tandem. Late to emerge in spring, both species grow rapidly and eventually reaches shrub-like proportions. Tall, imposing plants, use them as a bold accent or spot them throughout a meadow garden. Wild Senna is a member of the pea family though you wouldn’t know it based on the interesting yellow flowers which are 5-petaled and regular, not pea-shaped. The seed pods that follow give it away, looking much like other members of the family such as black and honey locust – they remain ornamental through early winter. The foliage is purgative for mammals and deer generally avoid it. S. hebecarpa (Northern Wild Senna) ranges further north than S. marilandica (Southern Wild Senna) and is native to our area. It tends to be a little more showy with a denser floral display and is a bit earlier to bloom – both species are highly attractive to native pollinators. We grow more Northern Wild Senna, but usually have at least a few Southern Wild Senna around as well.