Wild Senna
Wild senna (Senna marilandica) is a Wisconsin native perennial that grows up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Its bright yellow flowers bloom in mid to late summer, forming in axillary racemes, with each flower about ¾ inch across. Pollination is primarily carried out by bumblebees and solitary bees. It is a bumblebee magnet. The compound, pinnate leaves bear four to eight pairs of ovate to elliptical leaflets, adding to its lush appearance. Wild senna thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types, including sandy and rocky soils. It is commonly found along woodland edges, open fields, thickets, and moist habitats such as riverbanks and wet prairies. Ecologically, it serves as a larval host for several sulphur butterflies and its seeds provide food for upland gamebirds like quail and dove, making it a valuable addition to native plantings and restoration projects. (July)