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Planting Plants are typically available in 1- and 3-gallon pots. Privet Senna is best used as a specimen shrub. Chapman’s Senna may also be used as a specimen shrub, but works best planted in mass and as a border planting. Pruning is recommended in all uses. Hardiness Privet Senna is suited for zones 9a-11. Chapman’s Senna is best for zones 10a-11. Seeds Senna seeds are generally not available commercially. Chapman’s Senna and Privet Senna are proli��c self-seeders. Seeds will typically sprout the following spring and may produce ��owers within the ��rst year. Plants Privet and Chapman’s Senna plants are generally available from nurseries that specialize in native plants. Care As Sennas are tropical species, they are not cold tolerant and may die if exposed to below-freezing temperatures. (Seedlings are slightly more resilient and may survive colder temperatures than mature plants.) Sennas require occasional pruning — either by hand or by caterpillar; otherwise, they can become leggy and start to look somewhat messy. Removal of brown seed pods will also help the plants remain attractive when not in ��ower and will help mitigate the bounty of seedlings that may otherwise occur. If left to self-seed, unwanted seedlings can easily be weeded out. Site conditions Plant Privet Senna and Chapman’s Senna in dry to slightly moist, well-drained soils. As with most members of the legume family, both species can tolerate nutrient-poor soils but do better with some organic content. Full sun to light shade is best for both species. Privet Senna can tolerate a little more shade than Chapman’s Senna — up to half a day — but neither will ��ower if not given several hours a day of direct sunlight. Despite being native to coastal areas, Privet Senna is not salt tolerant (although Chapman’s Senna is). W20 Photo by Sharon Berg Notes Many non-native species of Senna are sold commercially. In particular, Senna pendula (commonly known as Christmas Senna or Butter��y Senna) is often recommended for butter��y gardens; however, it is a FLEPPC-listed Category I invasive species, which means it has been known to alter native plant communities and should be avoided. For more information on Butter��y Senna, visit the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council website (www.��eppc.org). Photo by Peg Urban Members of the Senna genus were once considered part of the Cassia genus, but were recently separated as a result of DNA analysis. Photo by Wayne Matchett Privet Senna Photo by Melanie Long Privet Senna Chapman’s Senna in lakeside landscape Sulphur caterpillar on Privet Senna ��owers


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