Northern Wild Senna
Senna hebecarpa
- Plant Type
- Herbaceous perennial (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Herbaceous
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun
- Moisture
- 💧 Regular, 💧💧 High
- Soil
- Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt, Calcareous
- Bloom
- July, August
- Sociability
- S3 – Small colonies
Pollinator Value
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Persistent dark brown seedpods (3-4 inches long) remain on stems through winter, providing seeds consumed by upland gamebirds, particularly Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Wild Turkey. Seeds are ovoid-rhombic, flattened, and held in segmented pods that slowly dehisce.
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 2
- Native Status
- ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
- Closest Direction
- SE
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
- Rarity Notes
- Globally secure (G5) but nationally critically imperiled in Canada (N1) and provincially critically imperiled in Ontario (S1). Not listed under SARA. Known from very few sites in southern Ontario; the only Canadian jurisdiction where it occurs natively. Populations in the wild are probably declining due to modern development.
- Rarity Ranks
- QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON S1 – Critically Imperiled
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- A tall herbaceous perennial of moist to mesic floodplains, river banks, openings, and fens. Found in alluvial soils along watercourses and in moist meadows. Tolerates some disturbance, which reduces competition from woody species. Nationally imperiled in Canada (N1), restricted to scattered southern Ontario localities. Forms small colonies via rhizomes in moist, rich soils.
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
- Notes
- As a nitrogen-fixing legume in the Fabaceae, Senna hebecarpa improves soil fertility for neighbouring plants. Its tall stature (to 1.5m) and dense compound foliage provide structural support and wind buffering in moist meadow plantings. Pairs well with other prairie and meadow species of similar moisture requirements. Extra-floral nectaries on petioles attract beneficial insects including ants and ladybird beetles that may provide biological pest control.
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
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ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Analgesic, Cathartic, Dermatological Aid, Febrifuge, Heart Medicine, Pulmonary Aid, Stimulant, Anthelmintic, Laxative, Pediatric Aid
- Notes
- Extensively used by Cherokee: infusion for cramps (analgesic), purgative for children and adults (cathartic), root poultice for sores (dermatological), infusion for fever (febrifuge), root infusion for heart trouble, compound for pneumonia (pulmonary), compound infusion for fainting (stimulant). Iroquois used it as a worm remedy (anthelmintic) and compound decoction of flowers as a laxative.
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
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ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →❌ Not Edible
- Foraging Notes
- Not edible. Plants of this genus contain compounds that can cause poisoning and fatal illness in humans. The foliage has strong purgative properties and should not be consumed.
- Toxicity
-
⚠️ Moderate Toxicity
Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database, but OWSL flags it as toxic to mammals if ingested and LBJ Wildflower Center warns that plants of this genus can cause poisoning and fatal illness in humans. The foliage has strong purgative properties containing anthraquinone glycosides typical of Senna species. Sensitivity varies with age, weight, and individual susceptibility; children are most vulnerable.
Seed Source
- OWSL