Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) | Accent on Natural Landscaping

The lush green foliage of Wild Senna (*Senna hebecarpa*) makes a great privacy fence. Its sturdy stems grow to 6 feet tall. They do well in clay and thrive in medium to moist soils.

The first time I saw Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) was during a tour of Wild Ones member’s home in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin back in the late 1980s. She had used it as a privacy border between her driveway and her neighbors. I remember thinking what a unique way to provide privacy, yet a sense of place. I recall it was loaded with insects buzzing and crawling around.

The Wild Senna stems are loaded with buds and blossoms. It grows well in the both sun and shade.

Wild Senna provides habitat for many insects, bees and butterflies, as well as birds.

The black anthers make the blossoms of the Wild Senna so distinctive looking.

A legume species, the buds of the Wild Senna look like tiny green bubbles.

The stamens are divided into 3 groups. The lower and middle stamens are fertile, while the upper stamens are sterile.

The bright yellow of the Wild Senna is spectacular. Their dark brown seed pods explode as they dry scattering their seeds everywhere.

For more information about this interesting plant, go to The Xerces Society blog Plants for Pollinators.

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