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Other Names:  Buttercup Bush, Texas Flowery Senna

Description:

A large shrub or small tree with small oval, dark green compound leaves, covered with clusters of yellow flowers in flushes throughout the year; prune to shape as a small accent tree, and to maintain density

Ornamental Features

Argentine Senna features showy corymbs of yellow pea-like flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early fall. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The oval compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy brown pods displayed from mid summer to early winter.

Landscape Attributes

Argentine Senna is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Argentine Senna is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Argentine Senna will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.