Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides) is a conservatory or greenhouse grown type of plant that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides).
This plant has several common names including: wormwood senna, silver cassia or feathery cassia.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: wormwood senna, silver cassia, feathery cassia
Scientific name: Senna artemisioides
Plant type: Conservatory & Greenhouse, Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides) – Consultaplantas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Senna artemisioides likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.
Sunlight
Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Wormwood senna (Senna artemisioides) – Dinkum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
