General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 8 to 15 feet
Plant Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Leaves: Semi-evergreen
Fragrant
Fruit: Other: Flat brown pod containing up to 16 bean like seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Year Round
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Dynamic Accumulator: Nitrogen fixer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Suitable for wintersowing
Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Popcorn Cassia
  • Peanut Butter Cassia
  • African Senna
  • Candelabra Tree
  • Popcorn Plant
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Senna didymobotrya
  • Synonym: Cassia didymobotrya

Photo Gallery
Location: Dow Gardens, Midland, Michigan
Date: 2019-09-05
Blooms on the stems open from the bottom up.  The dark brown brac
Location: Sandhills Horticultural Gardens Pinehurst, NC
Date: May 18, 2023
Popcorn Cassia #232 nn; LHB p. 586, "Ancient Latin name."; A nati
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: 2018-04-29
Bumblebees love it!
Location: Sandhills Horticultural Gardens Pinehurst, NC
Date: May 18, 2023
Popcorn Cassia #232 nn; LHB p. 586, "Ancient Latin name."; A nati
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: 2018-01-07
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2010-05-06
Location: Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2013-07-28
Location: My garden zone 5
Date: 2018-07-21

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Date: 2017-06-23

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2010-05-06
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2010-05-06
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2010-05-06
Location: Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2013-07-28

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2013-07-28
Location: My garden zone 5
Date: 2018-07-21
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: 2011-12-24
popcorn cassia
Location: Orlando, Central Florida, zone 9b
Date: 2012-02-15
popcorn cassia

Date: 2017-06-23
Location: Ethiopia, Lake Ziway.

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by GoneTropical (Orlando, Florida - Zone 9b) on Dec 30, 2011 8:21 AM concerning plant:
    I know this plant as popcorn cassia, when touching the leaves they smell like buttered popcorn, just like at the movies. This plant is a sure hit with garden visitors, especially the kids love it :-)
    This Cassia's flowers have dark buds, compared to the Senna alata's yellow buds.
    Not frost tolerant.
Plant Events from our members
LyraLu On March 15, 2022 Seeds germinated
1 germinated seedling
LyraLu On February 19, 2022 Seeds sown
chilled for a month in the fridge.
WebTucker On May 18, 2023 Bloomed
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