Senna didymobotrya
African senna
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Senna didymobotrya (African senna) is a non-native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key diagnostic feature is cone-shaped bract clusters.
African senna is a naturalized shrub found in southern central Coast Ranges, typically occurring in disturbed areas at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to October, this strongly scented plant produces yellow flowers in clustered racemes with distinctive brown to black-green bracts. Growing as an unarmed, leafy shrub 1 to 2 meters tall with hairy stems, it develops a dense, branching structure. Its compound leaves feature 14 to 20 overlapping leaflets, each 2 to 6.5 centimeters long, with oblong to elliptic shapes and abrupt tips. The shrub produces elongated dehiscent fruits 8 to 12 centimeters long with distinctive transverse partitions between seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key diagnostic feature is cone-shaped bract clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: San Diego, Orange, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles
Outside California: native to tropical Africa
Bloom period
Senna didymobotrya blooms Mar-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Cassia: Senna and Cassia are now considered the same genus; plants in California are Senna.; vs Ephedra: Senna has bright yellow flowers and compound leaves; Ephedra is nearly leafless with jointed green stems.; vs Spartium: Senna has compound leaves with paired leaflets; Spartium has simple leaves or nearly leafless green stems.; vs Parkinsonia: Senna lacks spines; Parkinsonia has prominent straight spines at leaf nodes.; vs Asclepias: Senna has yellow pea-flowers and compound leaves; Asclepias has complex star-shaped flowers and milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senna didymobotrya native to California?
No. Senna didymobotrya is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Senna didymobotrya bloom?
Senna didymobotrya blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Senna didymobotrya grow?
Senna didymobotrya occurs in San Diego, Orange, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Senna didymobotrya belong to?
Senna didymobotrya is in the Fabaceae family, genus Senna.
What habitat does Senna didymobotrya grow in?
Senna didymobotrya grows in Uncommon. Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.