Virginia ecotype - Henrico County
- Duration: Perennial
- Habit: Upright, clump-forming,deep rooted
- Size: 3 to 6 feet tall; 2 to 3 feet wide
- Flowering Time: July to September
- Bloom Color: Yellow with reddish stamens
- Habitat: Moist meadows, streambanks, prairies, and woodland edges
- Moisture: Average to moist; prefers well-drained soils
- Light: Full sun to part sun; adaptable to dappled light and shade
- Soils: Loamy, clay, or sandy soils; tolerant of poor fertility
- Uses: Pollinator gardens, native plantings, rain gardens, erosion control, wildlife support
Senna marilandica (Maryland senna)
Senna marilandica is a striking native perennial in the legume family (Fabaceae), known for its elegant, feathery pinnate leaves and clusters of bright yellow flowers held on tall, upright stems in midsummer. The blooms are especially attractive due to their contrasting reddish stamens, which help draw in a variety of insect pollinators. After flowering, the plant produces slender, curved seedpods that add further ornamental and ecological interest.
Maryland Senna is a host plant for several sulphur butterflies, especially the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), which lay their eggs on the leaves. Bees, especially native bumblebees, are drawn to its pollen-rich flowers—although it produces little to no nectar, making pollen the primary reward. As a nitrogen-fixer, it also improves soil quality over time. Maryland Senna is adaptable and durable, making it ideal for native gardens, wetland edges, and restoration sites where it can support biodiversity and stabilize soils.