Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - The leaves, seeds and pods contain compounds that can have a strong laxative effect and should not be eaten.
Image of Senna hebecarpa
Source: Cbaile19

Plant Names

image of Flowering plant
Senna hebecarpa
Wild Senna
Casse à fruits velus

Synonyms

American senna
wild senna
casse sauvage

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: Yellow Bloom Period: Jul - Aug
Max Height: 5.0 feet
Max Width: 2.5 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant spread by rhizome Spreads by rhizome
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
Ecological Benefits:
Bird friendly Supports birds
nitrogen fixer Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Tolerates:
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
Rabbit Resistant Rabbit resistant
Limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
Transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
plant endangered This plant is endangered

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant

Fun Facts

Wild Senna belongs to the pea family. As a legume, it will fix nitrogen in the soil through nodules on its roots, and can be chopped and dropped as a fertilizer. It has very attractive foliage and light yellow to orange flowers with seed pods that turn dark brown in the fall and are a favourite of wild turkeys. It has upright, branching stems and attractive compound leaves made up of many oval leaflets. In mid to late summer, it produces showy clusters of bright yellow, five-petalled flowers, followed by long, dark seed pods. It is an excellent choice for a native border, meadow or the back of a perennial bed. It forms an upright clump and is generally well behaved. It tolerates a range of soil conditions but performs best with reliable moisture. Give it adequate space because mature plants can become quite large and bushy.

Plant Location

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Senna hebecarpa
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Senna hebecarpa

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Senna hebecarpa

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Oenothera (Non-Native Primrose)
  • Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose Cultivars)
  • Oenothera fructicosa (Sundrops Cultivars)
  • Helianthus (Non-Native Sunflower)
  • NA (Black Eyed Susan's Cultivars)
  • Rudbeckia Triloba (Brown Eyed Susan's)
  • NA (Non-native False Sunflower)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 10 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Needs scarification if started in the fridge.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: September
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
  • Harvesting:
    • Open the pod, remove seeds
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: A dozen (12) seeds (eyeball)
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

The leaves, seeds and pods contain compounds that can have a strong laxative effect and should not be eaten.