We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Senna marilandica - (L.)Link.

Common Name Wild Senna, Maryland senna
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Thickets and dry roadsides[43]. Disturbed areas, sandy fields and open woods in Texas[274].
Range South-eastern N. America - Pennsylvania to Florida, Kansas and Iowa.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Senna marilandica Wild Senna, Maryland senna


Senna marilandica Wild Senna, Maryland senna

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Senna marilandica is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cassia marylandica. L. C. medsgeri.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Cardiac  Cathartic  Diuretic  Febrifuge  Poultice  Vermifuge

The leaves and seedpods are cathartic, diuretic and vermifuge[1, 11, 21, 46]. The leaves are harvested before and during flowering, the pods are harvested when fully ripe in the autumn. Both are dried for later use[238]. The leaves are a safe and effective cathartic[207, 213]. They are best used with Foeniculum vulgare seeds in order to counteract a tendency to cause gripe[207, 213]. The seedpods can also be used and are milder but slower in their action[222]. The seeds have been soaked in water until they are mucilaginous and then swallowed as a treatment for sore throats[213, 257]. The root is cardiac and febrifuge[257]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers and heart problems[257]. A poultice of the root has been used in treating sores[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most well-drained soils but prefers an open sandy loam in a sunny sheltered position[1, 11, 200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[200]. Succeeds in light shade, but the plant is much less vigorous when grown in dry shade[200]. Although fairly cold-tolerant, plants can be killed in very severe weather, so it is best to mulch the roots of mature plants in bad winters[11]. Younger plants should be mulched each winter until they are well established[200]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant[K]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - scarify and then pre-soak the seed for 2 - 3 hours in warm water before sowing it from early spring to early summer in a warm greenhouse[138]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 12 weeks at 23°c[138]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse. Do not plant them out until the following spring[138]. Division as growth commences in spring[11]. Cuttings of moderately ripe wood, July in a frame[1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas (east), Missouri, Nebraska (southeast), Oklahoma (east), Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Colutea arborescensBladder SennaShrub3.6 4-8 FLMHSNDM024
Colutea istriaBladder-sennaShrub3.0 6-9  LMHSNDM002
Coronilla emerusScorpion SennaShrub2.7 5-9  LMNDM01 
Senna alataRingworm Bush, Candle Bush, Empress Candle PlantShrub4.0 10-12 FLMHNM242
Senna auriculataMatara Tea. Tanner's cassiaTree5.0 10-12 FLMHNDMWe232
Senna siameaSiamese Senna, Kassod TreeTree12.0 9-12 FLMHSNM114
Senna singueanaWinter cassia, Sticky podTree5.0 10-12 FLMHNM233
Senna toraStinking Cassia, Sickle sennaAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHSNM131

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Link.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Senna marilandica  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.