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Senna artemisioides subsp. petiolaris

Botanical Name

Senna artemisioides (de Candolle) Randell subsp. petiolaris Randell

Common Name(s)

  • silver-leaf cassia

Synonyms

Parent Species

Senna artemisioides

Legume Clades

Caesalpinioideae , Cassieae , Senna

Native Geographic Range

  • Australia

IUCN Status

Growth Form

shrub

Cultivation Status in AZ

Commonly cultivated

Description

Evergreen plants to 5 ft (1.5 m) high with smooth gray bark that becomes slightly rough on old stems. In most plants, the leaves lack leaflets and are reduced to silvery gray phyllodes (expanded leaf stalk) that functions as a leaf. This species produces dense yellow flowers in the late winter and spring.

Habitat

Native to Australia where it is widespread in inland areas in desert, grassland, and woodland habitats.

Uses

Occasionally browsed by livestock in Australia.

Horticulture

Silvery cassia is grown for its silvery foliage and showy flowers. Occasional irrigation is beneficial during prolong periods of hot, dry weather to maintain appearance. The foliage is often damaged at 23° F (-5° C) and lower temperatures can kill stems. This plant has the potential to become invasive but perhaps not to the extent of other subspecies of Senna artemisioides.