
Photo: Uwe ThobaeCC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Flowering Cassia Plant Care
Senna corymbosa (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
See text
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Flowering Cassia?
Plant Flowering Cassia in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 13a) and water a young tree every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F (16–29°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Flowering Cassia?
Flowering Cassia (Senna corymbosa) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Senna genus. Flowering Cassia is also known as Winter Cassia, Adipera corymbosa, Cassia bonariensis.
Flowering Cassia displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 5 ft. Flowering Cassia produces bright yellow, pea-like flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Flowering Cassia?
Water a young or newly planted Flowering Cassia every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Flowering Cassia Need?
Flowering Cassia thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Flowering Cassia Prefer?
Senna corymbosa tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Flowering Cassia prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Flowering Cassia?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Flowering Cassia to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Flowering Cassia?
Feed Flowering Cassia every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Flowering Cassia?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Flowering Cassia is suited to USDA Zone 13a.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Flowering Cassia?
Flowering Cassia can spread to about 5 ft (1.5 m) and reach about 5 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 5 ft (1.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Flowering Cassia?
Prune Flowering Cassia while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.
How Do You Care for a Flowering Cassia in Winter?
Flowering Cassia is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Flowering Cassia?
Flowering Cassia can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alexandrian senna plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Flowering Cassia Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Flowering Cassia?
Flowering Cassia is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Flowering Cassia Need?
Flowering Cassia grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow Flowering Cassia as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Flowering Cassia is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Senna genus — compare its care with other Senna species on PlantoScan.
Senna is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Flowering Cassia thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Senna Species
Other Senna species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Senna corymbosa (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, family Fabaceae (first published in Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 397 (1982)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Flowering Cassia is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Uwe Thobae, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
