Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

Photo by Shirley Denton. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 

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Chapman's Sensitive Plant, Bahama Senna

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Also known as Cassia chapmanii

Plant Specifics

Size:2-4 ft tall by 3-6 ft wide
Life Span:Short-lived perennial
Flower Color:Yellow
Fruit Color:Brown
Phenology:Evergreen but goes semi-dormant in drought or cold. Blooms all year in south Florida. Typically lives 3-5 years.
Habitats:Pine rocklands, rocky hammocks, dunes. Typically in sunny areas.

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Specimen shrub. Can be a border plant or planted in a mass. 
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray Tolerance:Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).
Soil/Substrate:Lime rock, Sand

Wildlife

caterpillarbutterflypollinator

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)

Sennas attract butterflies, solitary bees including sweat bees and bumble bees, as pollinators.