Senna artemisioides

RHS Plant Profile

wormwood senna

RHS 2002

Other common names

feathery cassia, silver cassia, wormwood cassia

Synonyms

Cassia artemisioides

Shrubs Conservatory Greenhouse

An evergreen shrub to 2m in height, with downy grey-green leaves divided into linear leaflets, and axillary racemes of fragrant yellow or pale yellow flowers 1cm across, borne sporadically all year round

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Senna can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs , trees or perennials with pinnate leaves and terminal or axillary racemes, corymbs or panicles of usually yellow, bowl-shaped, 5-petalled flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost in full light with moderate humidity. Grow outdoors in moist but well-drained fertile in full sun in protected frost-free area

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free