Senna polyphylla
Senna polyphylla
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of low elevations in the tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 300 metres. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 1,200mm[1]. Requires a sunny position[1]. Succeeds in a wide variety of well-drained soils[1]. Tolerant of salt spray[1]. A slow-growing plant, growing about 30cm in height per year when small[1]. Flowers and produces fruits all year round[1].
Propagation
Seed - untreated seed started germination within 2 days, with 59% germinating[1]. Once dried, it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Senna+polyphylla>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Wildland Shrubs of the United States and its Territories: Thamnic Descriptions — Francis J.K. (Editor) · USDA; Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestr · 2000 · http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/wildland_shrubs.htm ↩︎An excellent series of papers, in PDF format, from various authors giving quite detailed information on a range of shrubs growing in the United States and its Territories. It can be downloaded from the Internet.