Wild Senna (Cassia hebecarpa)
Cassia hebecarpa

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Colony-Forming in the Fabaceae Family
A stately native perennial with cheerful yellow blooms all summer, beloved by bees, butterflies, and birds.

Showy yellow flowers grow on thick stems up to 6' tall.  Brown seed pods attract birds in the winter.  Will readily self-seed if not controlled.

Pros

  • Reliable bee and butterfly magnet all summer
  • Host plant for Sulphur butterfly caterpillars
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Low maintenance once established

Cons

  • Can self-seed aggressively if pods aren't removed
  • Deep taproot makes it hard to transplant once established
  • May need staking in rich, moist soil
Why Like A true Midwest native found in moist meadows, savannas, fens, and roadsides. It draws bumblebees and halictid bees to its nectar-producing glands, and serves as an important host plant for Cloudless Sulphur, Orange-Barred Sulphur, and Sleepy Orange butterfly caterpillars. Its winter-persistent seed pods are a favored food source for upland gamebirds like bobwhite and wild turkey.
Highlights Clusters of bright yellow, five-petaled flowers top sturdy stems from midsummer into early fall, followed by dark, flattened seed pods that persist through winter and feed songbirds and game birds.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 6 feet tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Prefers medium to medium-wet conditions; established plants have some tolerance for average garden moisture but should not be allowed to dry out for extended periods, especially while young.
Zones 4b - 8b (Usually hardy to -25° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Rain Garden, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers
Bloom Period July to August
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Green
Animals That Use It

Seeds:
 

More Info from Experts
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 09/07 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/08
2023 : 06/21 - 09/30

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!