Senna hebecarpa, Wild Senna
FS-PS, Zone 4, Blooms Aug.-Sept., 5’ x 2-2.5’, medium wet to medium.
Keystone species - It is a critical host plant for the caterpillars of several Orange-baspecies, including the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly. Its flowers provide high-quality pollen with a protein-to-lipid ratio specifically optimized for bumblebees to raise their offspring. The plant features small glands (nectaries) at the base of its leaves that secrete nectar to attract predatory insects like ants, lady beetles, and wasps. These "bodyguards" protect the plant from pests, creating a miniature ecosystem of predator-prey interactions. As a member of the legume family, it hosts nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root system, naturally enriching the soil for surrounding vegetation.
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. 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 in the blooms. The pollen 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/
DA Plant Notes - Nancy’s favorite native plant.
Senna hebecarpa, Wild Senna
FS-PS, Zone 4, Blooms Aug.-Sept., 5’ x 2-2.5’, medium wet to medium.
Keystone species - It is a critical host plant for the caterpillars of several Orange-baspecies, including the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly. Its flowers provide high-quality pollen with a protein-to-lipid ratio specifically optimized for bumblebees to raise their offspring. The plant features small glands (nectaries) at the base of its leaves that secrete nectar to attract predatory insects like ants, lady beetles, and wasps. These "bodyguards" protect the plant from pests, creating a miniature ecosystem of predator-prey interactions. As a member of the legume family, it hosts nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root system, naturally enriching the soil for surrounding vegetation.
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. 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 in the blooms. The pollen 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/
DA Plant Notes - Nancy’s favorite native plant.
