A volunteer in my backyard this year. I see full-grown plants in the neighborhood, so I know it will get to be a large plant.

The leaves fold up in low light, and the flowers- at least on this immature plant- hang down. I couldn't get a clear bloom photo, but can try again tomorrow.

The plant database entry for S. bicapsularis says that it blooms late fall to winter, though, and this puppy is blooming now. The entry also says its only hardy to 9b, but I know this plant is hardy here in unprotected sites in 8b/9a.

I know there are other plants in this family that are similar-looking; any alternate ID suggestions, or did I get it right the first time?

Thanks for having a look,
Virginia

It's difficult to tell without a photo of the entire plant from a distance but it is a Senna of some sort. It just doesn't look like Christmas Senna (Senna bicapsularis) to me, which is a tree.

A few natives for consideration:
Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)
https://www.abnativeplants.com...

Wild Senna (Senna marilandica)
https://uswildflowers.com/deta...

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia)
https://uswildflowers.com/deta...

Java Bean it is.

The large, similar-looking plants in the neighborhood must be something else. This is about 15" tall, but it is a first-year plant, and I thought it would grow much larger.

Thanks for the ID!

Virginia

"How can you tell if that golden-flowered treasure in your home garden or local demonstration garden is really Senna bicapsularis or the invasive Senna pendula? True Senna bicapsularis has compound leaves typically consisting of 3 pairs of leaflets and the flowers are borne on very short pedicels (stalks) — less than half a centimeter in length. In contrast, Senna pendula has compound leaves with 4 to 7 pairs of leaflets, and the flowers are borne on longer (1 to 3 cm long pedicels)

According to UF you have the real deal

Though if it stays as a shrub it may be senna obtusifolia

Hi MBJM,

This is an old thread from two years ago but I think Virginia confirmed the identity of her plant as Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia)

Here's a few pictures of my 2 bicapsularis I started from seeds from a Master Gardener in my area over 12 years ago. They bloom 3 times a year here in south Louisiana zone 9. It's July & they just finished blooming May/June & are going to seed. They are wispy & need staking but never get over 8' & have lots of 1/2" branches that as you see get covered with flowers that attract Sulphur butterflies that lay eggs & have caterpillars.
I do have another variety that has the exact same flower but the rounder leaves like yours that only blooms once a year in late Summer & it rarely makes seed pods. It was given to me as an unnamed cassia plant & one year got 15' tall & wide with a 3" stalk & some 2" branches that was very hard to stake well & did blow over in a hurricane. I don't have a picture but will take one when it's in bloom again. Both get nipped by frost & freezes so I cover bicapsularis since one bloom cycle is Dec./Jan .but I cut back damage about March 1 on both varieties to keep them a manageable size.

@Tabbycat Trudy, Wow they are so beautiful!

Your photos appear to show more pointed leaves and I think yourmay be Tree Senna (Senna corymbosa) which is commonly found in Louisiana. Senna bicapsularis has more rounded leaves.


We had a Senna bicapsulaaris in our backyard years ago that froze one winter and never came back. A neighbor used to prune her plants and stick the cuttings right down into the sandy soil and they always rooted. She'd given me cuttings a few times but I could never seem to get them to root so one day when we were chatting over the fence, she pulled up a small plant with roots and gave it to me. It grew big but only bloomed late in the year, Nov./Dec. time frame.


I planted one here when bought this house a few years ago, it's about 6-7 feet high and very spindly but it hasn't bloomed because it doesn't get enough sun.

If you think your trees are Senna corymbosa, you should consider adding some of those great photos to the database: Tree Senna (Senna corymbosa)

Looking at pictures in database you listed I saw some like mine & some quite different under all 4 names listed. I will get pictures as I said of the other rounder leaved one that only blooms once in late Summer for comparison. The stalks on the pictures I posted make lots of wispy stalks that I band together to form a sturdier stem & it still must be staked or would look like your bushy picture. The flowers are slightly cupped with the distinctive 2 dark horns also like several. The other obvious difference that may hold I.D. is mine make large bean pods & the round leafed one barely makes a couple a season. Both root easily in moist soil. I'd also like to know the difference between Cassia & Senna in the name. It's a sought after plant here because of several bloom cycles of the colorful Golden yellow flowers & hardiness.
I'm anxiously watching three 4' plants I started from seeds last year that i got from shalyn in Cal that were bought at Quail Gardens in San Diego that should have a blush on the yellow flower. She called them Cassias & they look like my flowers in a picture. We'll see hopefully by late Summer.