Velvet-Leaf Senna

Native to well-draining soils with little rainfall, from El Paso to Big Bend and the Austin area west of I-35, Velvet-Leaf Senna is in the Pea family, a distant relative of the Texas Bluebonnet. It has bright yellow, five-petalled blooms that stand erect, rising from fuzzy compound leaves that give the plant its name. It is a host plant of the Sleepy Orange butterfly. It prefers well-draining, gravely soil and also grows well in a pot. It's a great plant for school gardens. Once the seed pods dry, scatter them in an empty pot and watch as the baby sennas put on new, velvety leaves, giving the plant another affectionate name: Puppy Dog Ears. Learn more at Native Plant Society and Native Gardeners.

Plant Size: 4" Pot or Gallon
Scientific Name:  Senna lindheimeriana
Height: 4 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Light: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun