The 12 most beautiful types of cassia to grow in a pot or in the garden

The Cassia have the flowers grouped in clusters

Cassia are plants that generally grow as low shrubs. There are certain species that are larger, but we are still talking about a genus whose species are very well adapted to living in all types of gardens, as well as in pots.

In addition, they tend to grow quite fast, which is very interesting since their flowers have a high ornamental value. And if it was not enough, there are some types of Cassia that have medicinal properties.

Before showing you the main types of Cassia, it is important that you consider the following: the genus, Cassia, has undergone several modifications. In fact, there are some species that are now within another genus: Senna. Now, both the Senna species and those left in Cassia still belong to the same Cassieae tribe and Cassinae sub-tribe.

For this reason, and bearing in mind that the scientific names of many species of Cassia are now synonymous with others of Senna, we are going to include both genders indicating both their current and old botanical names or synonym. We start:

Cassia acutifolia / Cassia angustifolia

Senna alexandrina is a flowering shrub

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

The current scientific name is senna alexandrina. It is popularly known as Alexandrian senna, and it is a shrub native to Egypt. Reaches a maximum height of 2 metersalthough the normal thing is that it does not exceed the meter. It develops long branches that have between 4-5 pairs of leaves composed of 4-6 pairs of leaflets. Its flowers are yellow, and are grouped in clusters.

Medical uses

It has several: with the leaves an infusion is made that is consumed for its laxative and cholagogue properties as long as they are low doses. It can also be used as a purgative, but in this case the dose will be higher. It should not be given to children, as it can cause severe diaper rash.

Winged Cassia

Senna alata is a small shrub

Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Its current scientific name is winged senna. It is a natural shrub from Mexico that grows between 1 and 4 meters tall. The leaves are composed of 7-14 green leaflets, and are between 30 and 70 centimeters long. The racemes are made up of numerous yellow flowers, and they are quite large as they can be up to 60 centimeters long.

Medical uses

Its leaves, once ground in a mortar and mixed with vegetable oil, are widely used to alleviate skin problems, such as ringworm for example. In fact, in its place of origin it is known precisely by the name of the ringworm bush. It has fungicidal properties that are very beneficial when suffering from this disease.

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Cassia auriculata

Senna auriculata is a shrub with yellow flowers

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Adityamadhav8

Now his name is senna auriculata. It is a highly branched shrub native to India and Sri Lanka that grows up to 2-3 meters tall. Its leaves are paripinnate, green and pubescent. The flowers are yellow and about 5 centimeters wide, and they are grouped in short clusters.

Medical uses

It is a plant that is widely used medicinally. For example, the decoction root can relieve fever, constipation, diabetes and diseases that affect the urinary system; the leaves are used as laxatives. In Africa both the bark and the seeds are consumed to alleviate rheumatism, diabetes, gout, gonorrhea and even eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.

Cassia corymbosa

Cassia coymbosa is a type of shrubby cassia

Image – Wikimedia / Uwe Thobae

The scientific name has become corymbose sennaand is a shrub native to South America that grows up to 2,5 meters high. The leaves are composed of green oblong to lanceolate-oblong leaflets. The flowers are yellow, and are grouped in clusters that attract the attention of insects such as bumblebees.

Cassia didymobotrya

The Cassia didymobotrya is a tree

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

Currently it is part of the genus Senna, becoming male didymobotrya. It is known by the common names of senna africana or candlestick tree. It grows in Africa, between 3 and 9 meters high. The leaves are up to 50 centimeters long, and are green. Its flowers are grouped in clusters and are of a beautiful yellow color. The whole plant smells of a peculiar way: of burnt popcorn.

Cassia fistula

Cassia fistula is a tree with yellow flowers

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Delonix

The Cassia fistulaor as it is also known purgative cassia or golden shower, is a shrub or deciduous tree native to Egypt that reaches between 6 and 20 meters in height. It tends to branch out a lot, and its trunk thickens to 50 centimeters in diameter. Its flowers are grouped in yellow clusters that can be between 30 and 80 centimeters long; in addition, they are aromatic.

Medical uses

Basically, it is used as a mild laxative, taken in an infusion made with the pulp of the pods. The leaves are also used as a poultice to treat wasp stings, and blows.

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big cassia

Cassia grandis is a type of large tree

Image – Wikimedia / Owenforever

Known as carao, cimarrona or cañandonga, it is a deciduous tree native to Central America that reaches a height of 30 meters or more. It has a wide crown, 5-6 meters long, and highly branched. The leaves are made up of greenish leaflets, and its flowers are pink.

Medical uses

It has several: the decoction leaves, fruits and the bark of the trunk are used to alleviate or reduce the symptoms of anemia, colds, and diseases of the urinary system. The poultice leaves are used to treat ringworm, herpes or sores. And from the root a liquid is extracted that is used as a healing agent.

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Cassia javanica

Cassia javanica produces pink flowers

Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Javanese cassia is a natural Indonesian deciduous tree that reaches a height of 25 to 40 meters. The leaves are 20-40 centimeters long, and are formed by 8-17 pairs of ovate-obtuse leaflets. The flowers are grouped in clusters and are pink in color.

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Cassia obovata

Senna italica is a type of small cassia

Image – Wikimedia / Bjoertvedt

This species has changed its name: it is now Italian seine. In common language it is called sen of Spain, sena of Senegal, or sen italic. It is native to Africa, although it has been cultivated in the Iberian Peninsula and in Italy for a long time. It grows as a deciduous shrub to reach 60 centimeters in height. The flowers are yellow and are grouped in terminal racemes.

Medical uses

Both the leaves and the seeds are used as laxatives and purgatives. Likewise, the first ones, taken before the plant blooms, can also be used as a dressing to treat burns or skin ulcers.

Cassia obtusifolia

Senna obtusifolia is a type of Cassia

Image – Wikimedia / Vinayaraj

It has passed to the genus Senna, so its current scientific name is senna obtusifolia. It is a monocarpic herbaceous plant (after flowering and producing seeds it dies) that grows in Asia, Oceania, Africa and America. It grows between 20 centimeters and 2 meters in heightand develops glabrous leaves, with oblanceolate-wedge leaflets, which are said to smell bad. Its flowers are yellow.

Uses

Unlike other species, this is used mainly in gastronomy. Green leaves are highly valued in Sudan, as they are used to produce kawal, which is high in protein. The roasted seeds are used as thickeners, and if they are also ground, they can serve as a substitute for coffee.

Western Cassia

There are many types of Cassia with yellow flowers

Image – Wikimedia / Vinayaraj

It has also passed into the genus Senna, so that its name is now Senna occidentalis. It is a monocarpic herb native to the pantropical region that grows between 40 centimeters and 1,2 meters in height. Its leaves are between 11 and 25 centimeters long, green and have a bad smell. The flowers are grouped in terminal yellow clusters.

Uses

The seeds once roasted are used as a substitute for coffee.

Cassia is attractive

Cassia spectabilis is a deciduous tree

Image – Wikimedia / mauroguanandi

Today it is known as senna is a sight to beholdand is a deciduous shrub or tree native to Central and South America that reaches between 2 and 15 meters in height. The leaves are composed of 10-16 pairs of green leaflets, and are up to 40 centimeters long. The inflorescences are panicular racemes that have numerous yellow flowers.

Which of the different types of Cassia (and / or Senna) did you like the most?

The 12 most beautiful types of cassia to grow in a pot or in the garden

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