FNPS Plant Database
Senna ligustrina
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Family:
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Plant Specifics
Form:
Size:
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry
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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
9A,9B,10A,10B,11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
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Vouchered In:
Ecology
Wildlife:
Larval host plant for cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae), sleepy orange (Eurema nicippi) and the introduced orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) butterflies. A gland at the base of the leaves attracts ants that attack the butterfly caterpillars (IRC, 2021) Sennas attract butterflies, solitary bees including sweat bees and bumble bees, as pollinators.
Native Habitats:
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Gann, G.D, C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Privet senna, Privet wild sensitive plant [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Sennligu ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.
Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. 1999. Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.
Inskeep, Ryan Robert. (2016). Blooming Yellow is Privet Wild Sensitive Plant – Senna ligustrina (blog post) [in] Florida Native Plants and Critters. ( https://floridanativegarden.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/privet-wild-sensitive-plant-is-blooming-yellow/ ). Accessed 2026.
Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co, St. Petersburg, FL.
Wheeler, Justin. (2017). Plants for Pollinators: Wild Senna. ( https://xerces.org/blog/plants-for-pollinators-wild-senna ). Accessed 2026. Xerces Society, Portland, OR.
Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
