The Colorful Flowering Plant That Attracts Butterflies And Enriches Your Garden Soil

Double the utility of your flowering plants with a delightful native perennial. Maryland senna (Senna marilandica), or wild senna, offers a fresh way to attract butterflies, plus it actually improves the soil where it is grown. A common sight in moist riverbanks and disturbed roadsides in the eastern U.S., this species blooms with bright butter-yellow flowers in summer. Gradually, the petals lighten into later summer. If left standing in winter, Maryland senna's flowers turn into brown seedpods that give the plant a showy look in the cold months and attract birds. The Maryland senna is also an easy way to bring beautiful, native pollinators to your yard, including bright yellow and green Sulphur butterflies.

Growing Maryland senna can be good for your garden beyond its pretty appearance. Many members of the legume/pea family help fix nitrogen in the soil. As a member of the legumes, Maryland senna might be a way to add nitrogen to your soil for a healthier garden. While inconclusive evidence exists that Maryland senna fixes nitrogen nutrients back in the ground, its status as a native and beautiful aesthetic appeal do not make it a bad choice either way. Plus, as a member of the pea family, Maryland senna is known to be a larval host plant for some butterfly species, including the cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae) and sleepy orange (Eurema nicippe) species.

Maryland senna is hardy in zones 4 through 10, and definitely grows further north and south than the state of Maryland. If you don't know what a USDA growing zone is, and how to find out your zone, zone 4 includes northern New York and North Dakota. Zone 10 goes into southern California and southern Florida. Thankfully, this perennial does not require specific soil conditions, but prefers moist, rich loam. After being established, this plant can experience overly wet or overly dry conditions without problems. Prioritize planting it in partial to full sun. For the best flowers, try to grow Maryland senna in full sun. Bees appreciate the bright, attractive, pollen-rich flowers.

This native flower grows via rhizomes, reaching out under the ground. Bear in mind that planting certain species next to Maryland senna can be a problem if it does not do well near dense roots. However, this stunning lesser-known flower is definitely worth growing in your garden and there are many ways to utilize it. A shrubby perennial, Maryland senna grows very quickly and has a rounded form. Use it at the center of a pollinator garden to attract plenty of butterflies and other pollinators, without needing to clean it up in the fall and winter.