Senna is a powerhouse! As a member of the pea family, it has many of the benefits of that group.
Throughout the season, the leaves of senna dance with its pretty little leaflets. The leaves are also the source of senna’s most known use as a potent medicinal herb, as a powerful laxative. This is so well established that senna is regularly prescribed in hospitals to counteract the constipating effects of opiates. You don’t however need to take senna as a pill, just make a tea of the leaves.
The flowers are a vibrant yellow with brown accents, which are very attractive to pollinators. It is also probably a mild nitrogen fixer.
What Is Nitrogen Fixation?
Nitrogen fixation is essentially when a plant can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form which can be used in the soil by plants.
Generally, if a plant can fix its own nitrogen, it can more easily become independent and live in more challenging contexts with lower fertility.
The seeds are great food for wild turkeys until they release from the pods. Senna seeds will self-sow well if they make it to the ground, so cut the seed stalks before they mature if you’d like to keep senna in place.
Growth Parameters:
Expect a multi-stemmed herbaceous perennial with stalks about 5 feet tall when flowering.
