Can I grow senna?
Wild senna plants grow naturally in moist soil. While it will tolerate moist and very poorly draining soil, many gardeners actually choose to grow senna in drier soil and sunny spots. This keeps the plant’s growth limited to about 3 feet (0.9 m.)
How do you grow a senna plant?
Wild senna should be grown in soil that has good drainage in either a sunny or partly shaded location. This plant grows naturally in damp, fertile soils and under these conditions a height of 7 feet can be attained. In a drier soil the plant will grow to about 3 feet and tend to be less floppy.
Is Wild Senna edible?
The young shoots, leaves and unripe pods of the Cassia occidentalis, C. marilandica and C. tora, are edible AFTER boiling in a change of water to reduce the strong smell. The torrefied seeds are used as a coffee substitute, though nothing really substitutes for coffee.
Is senna a perennial?
Wild senna is a large perennial with the distinctive foliage and conspicuous seed pods characteristic of members of the pea family.
What is the family of senna?
LegumesSenna / Family
How do you harvest senna seeds?
Collect the pods as soon as they begin to dry. Spread them out away from direct sunlight, covering them lightly to contain the seed as the pods explode. Separate the seed from the pods, and store the seed in a cool dry place.
Is senna a nitrogen fixer?
Senna is a stunningly beautiful member of the nitrogen fixing Fabaceae family.
How do you propagate senna?
Most senna propagation starts from seed. For best results, place the seeds in boiling water and let them soak until the water reaches room temperature. This breaks the seed coat and wakes the seed from dormancy to allow water and gases to pass through so the seed will germinate.
What plant did senna use?
Medicinal use Historically, Senna alexandrina was used in the form of senna pods, or as herbal tea made from the leaves, as a laxative. It also serves as a fungicide.
Where can senna be found?
acutifolia), from Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria, and C. sieberana, from Senegal to Uganda, are cultivated in India for their cathartic properties. Tanner’s senna (C. auriculata), a tall shrub, is a principal native tanbark in southern India.