Shrubby Senna

Senna wislizeni

Plant Type(s)	Shrub
Native to Arizona	Yes!
Water Needs	Low
Sun	Full sun
Pollinators	Carpenter bees, butterflies
Has Spines	No
Size In relative feet, width by height	4-6' × 4-8'
Flower Color	Yellow
Minimum Temperature Range	10 °F
Leaf Description	Pinnately compound (having leaflets arranged on either side of the stem), dark green, arranged alternately or in whorls.
Fruit	A legume (bean)
View on SEINet	View SEINet Entry
Range Map	View SEINet Range Map
Elevation Range	3500-5500 ft.
Description	This large decidous shrub is found only in Cochise county within Arizona, but grows further east into the Chihuahuan desert. Whorls of pinnate, dark leaves appear in spring from brown to blackish stems. These are followed in late spring/early summer by prolific yellow flowers which draw bumblebees and carpenter bees and various butterfly species. Like many legumes, this plant is a larval host for a number of native butterflies and moths. The blooms give way to bean pods which dry a fairly dark brown. Though this plant is limited in its range in Arizona, it is appropriate for gardens in many parts of the state. At lower elevations this plant could be planted alongside foothills palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) , ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) , and globe mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.). At higher elevations a planting might include this species with native grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.), Emory oak (Quercus emoryi) , and bush dalea (Dalea pulchra).