Senna hebecarpa, Wild Senna
FS-PS, Zone 4, Blooms Aug.-Sept., 5’ x 2-2.5’, medium wet to medium.
Wild Senna is a versatile plant and the host plant for the Sulphur Butterfly! Its lovely, bright yellow flowers bloom July-August, attracting many bees and butterflies. Autumn brings beautiful leaf colors and the formation of long black pods with seeds favored by larger birds like wild turkeys (we had a female wild turkey visit our gardens for several days last summer). A horizontal root system provides strength against winds, allowing the plant's stately (4-6') beauty to be appreciated even after a storm. Some gardeners use this sun-loving plant to form a hedge. Its close relative, It produces volunteers each year from seed. We like this feature as that means we have Senna in different sections of the garden. Each plant seems to bloom at a slightly different time expanding our enjoyment.
Five types of Sulphur Butterflies use Wild Senna as a Host Plant including the Cloudless Sulphur. The plant does not produce nectar. The pllen is fused in the anthers. Bumble bees buzz-pollinate the flowers for their pollen. They do this by grabbing onto the flower, biting the anther and vibrating their wings to a decible of 270 HZ.
Check out this 2 minute Deep Look from NPR, prepare to be amazed! https://www.pbs.org/video/deep-look-bumblebee/
Senna hebecarpa, Wild Senna
FS-PS, Zone 4, Blooms Aug.-Sept., 5’ x 2-2.5’, medium wet to medium.
Wild Senna is a versatile plant and the host plant for the Sulphur Butterfly! Its lovely, bright yellow flowers bloom July-August, attracting many bees and butterflies. Autumn brings beautiful leaf colors and the formation of long black pods with seeds favored by larger birds like wild turkeys (we had a female wild turkey visit our gardens for several days last summer). A horizontal root system provides strength against winds, allowing the plant's stately (4-6') beauty to be appreciated even after a storm. Some gardeners use this sun-loving plant to form a hedge. Its close relative, It produces volunteers each year from seed. We like this feature as that means we have Senna in different sections of the garden. Each plant seems to bloom at a slightly different time expanding our enjoyment.
Five types of Sulphur Butterflies use Wild Senna as a Host Plant including the Cloudless Sulphur. The plant does not produce nectar. The pllen is fused in the anthers. Bumble bees buzz-pollinate the flowers for their pollen. They do this by grabbing onto the flower, biting the anther and vibrating their wings to a decible of 270 HZ.
Check out this 2 minute Deep Look from NPR, prepare to be amazed! https://www.pbs.org/video/deep-look-bumblebee/
