Wild Senna Seeds - Senna Hebecarpa

Wild Senna (Senna Hebecarpa) - Senna is an herb. The leaves and the fruit of the plant are used to make medicine. This native, long-lived, yellow flowering perennial is found in the eastern third of the United States. A unique specimen plant for the border! Long-lived and hardy. Tolerant of hot, dry sites once established. It is excellent for native gardens and meadows as well as conservation plantings. Plants grow up to six feet tall and produce yellow flowers in summer, which attract butterflies, bumble bees and other native bees. Seeds are eaten by some game birds such as quail and turkey. Plants prefer damp, fertile soils but will tolerate drier sites.

Senna is an herb that contains compounds called anthraquinones, which are powerful laxatives. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved senna as a nonprescription laxative. Additionally, senna has been found to be effective for cleansing the bowel prior to undergoing colonoscopy when used in conjunction with other agents.

Beautiful Landscape Perennial

How To Grow

Senna seeds have a hard shell, so they should be prepared before sowing: rub the seeds lightly with sandpaper and/or soak them 180F degree water overnight. Then, store the seeds in moist sand in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks before planting. Seeds should be sown in early spring: plant just below the surface of the soil, and keep seeds moist but not wet until germination. These seeds can adapt to both moist and dry soil, although damp soil is preferred. Cutting back the plant will encourage bushier growth.

• Environment: full sun to partial shade
• Soil: damp and fertile soil
• Sowing rate: 3-4 seeds per plant

Plant Information

Wild senna is a perennial flowering herb that grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. It is effective at attracting a variety of pollinators to the garden, and also looks lovely in the landscape. This is an endangered plant due to loss of natural habitat.

• Bloom color: yellow
• Bloom season: summer
• Height: 36-72 inches