Sicklepod

Senna obtusifolia

Found in fields (especially soybean fields), disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 2–5 feet
Spread: 2–5 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

See native alternatives

Senna obtusifolia — foliage photograph — (c) Ben Mowbray, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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St. Andrew's-cross
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color
Shrubby St. John's-wort
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Bushy St. John's-wort
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, spread

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At a glance

Life cycle: Annual
Bloom: July to September
Fruiting season: August to November

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 36 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

14CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Cassia

Phoebis sennaeCloudless Sulphur
Abaeis nicippeSleepy Orange, Sleepy Yellow, Erratic Orange
Automeris ioIo Moth
Choristoneura obsoletanaObsolete Leafroller
Colias eurythemeOrange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly
Epargyreus clarusSilver-Spotted Skipper
Eumarozia malachitanaSculptured Moth
Lesmone detrahensDetracted Owlet
Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave

Show all 14

Pyrisitia lisaLittle Yellow, Little Sulphur, Lisa Yellow
Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
Uresiphita reversalisGenista Caterpillar, Genista Cbroom Moth
Zale lunataLunate Zale

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

2BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Cassia

Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Fabaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–10b
Flower color: Yellow
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: November

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “July to September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Fruit begins · “August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “November” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differs)
Height · “2–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Life cycle · “Annual” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differs)
primary_flower_color · “yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differs)
Spread · “2–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Cassia obtusifolia; Coffeeweed; Java Bean Senna

Conservation status

Virginia rank	Not available
Global rank	G5
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source