Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae
Candlebush
Senna alata
Illumination and healing.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Senna
- Native to
- Mexico, Central America, South America
- Bloom season
- Fall, Winter
- Type
- tropical shrub
- Height
- 8-15 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Moist, fertile, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The bright yellow flower spikes resemble lit candles, giving the plant its common name.
- Candlebush leaves fold closed at night in a behavior called nyctinasty.
- The plant is widely used in tropical folk medicine to treat ringworm and other fungal skin infections.
- Candlebush is considered invasive in many tropical regions due to its aggressive self-seeding.
- Sulphur butterflies are strongly attracted to candlebush and use it as a larval host plant.
Color meanings
0
light
1
healing
2
tropical vigor