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Cassia didymobotrya [ KASS - electrical engineering - uh , did - ee - mo - BOT - ree - uh ] know as Senna Didymobotrya is a perennial flowering plant metal money from the folk Fabaceae , commonly known as the legume , edible bean , or pea fellowship .
The works is native to Africa where it is seen growing in a variety of habitats throughout the continent but is mainly found in the tropic realm of eastern and primal Africa .
Didymobotrya has been bring in to many other parts of the world and has even been naturalized in the wilderness in some parts of the United States , Mexico , Australia , and Indonesia .
While it is to begin with a tropical works , it can grow in cooler climates as an annual plant .
Other than the botanical name it ’s usually known as :
Popcorn Cassia Care
Size & Growth
Popcorn Bush is a semi - deciduous grower typically growing to the height of 6 ’ – 10 ’ human foot but has been lie with to gain up to 25 ’ foot high-pitched .
When grown as an annual plant , the industrial plant does n’t usually grow past a couple of feet in height .
It features burnished green colored , large , leathery , and pinnate chemical compound leave of absence covered with flyspeck hair .
Just like the length of the leaves , the length and thickness of the hair will vary among the plants that grow in their raw habitat and the ones are grown in container .
One of the distinguishing characteristics of cassia is the impregnable , but peculiar olfactory property the leafage gives off when itch or injure .
It ’s described differently by different people .
Some describe it as the smell of butter popcorn or peanut vine butter ( hence , the common name ) .
Others cerebrate it smell like a wet dog .
Flowering and Fragrance
The blooming period of African senna starts in spring and continues till evenfall , but it grow most flowers in belated summer .
The alar raceme are erect and hit up to 1 ’ fundament long .
The unopened buds are enclosed by a brownish - green or calamitous bract which opens allowing five flower petal to issue .
One raceme has about 20 to 30 bright yellow flowers with a soft bouquet and they contrast against strike black buds on peak spike .
The plant exhibits a unique shape when the flower buds start opening – the buds start opening from the bottom of the flowering .
Flowering is follow by the product of fruits ; about 5″ inches long , flat , brown - coloured pod containing up to 16 bonce - like seeds .
Light & Temperature
Peanut Butter cassia is a tropical plant preferring warm weather and grows good in full sun .
But , as observe above , it can produce in cool mood as an annual plant .
Although it may tolerate light frost , it can not digest uttermost winters , which is why it is recommend to keep it indoors or in a greenhouse when temperatures fall too depleted .
USDA hardiness zone 10 .
Watering and Feeding
This legume metal money requires plenteous water and humidity to grow properly , so make certain to water the plant on a regular basis .
Fertilizing the industrial plant once a month helps to upgrade growth and flowering .
Once it ’s established it ’s drouth tolerant .
Soil & Transplanting
Zea mays everta cassia thrives in plenteous , moist , and well - drained filth .
Grooming and Maintenance
The industrial plant does n’t require much sustainment but may need to be pruned to be kept compact .
After flowering , prune as needed .
However , it will delay the next blooming .
How To Propagate Popcorn Bush?
raw plants are typically grow from seeds in their natural home ground and from frozen cuttings in non - tropical areas where it is spring up asannual plant .
Propagating through cuttings , however , is difficult .
When propagating through seeds , soak them in water for about 24 hours ( preferably in warm water ) and then seed shallowly in productive , moist , and well - draining soil .
Soaking in urine check the seeds germinate more readily .
February and March are the best months to sow the seeds , but check that to keep the plant indoors or in a nursery until the end of the frost time of year and then establish outdoors in full sun .
If using cut , plant them in spring .
African Senna Pest or Diseases
Popcorn cassia plants do not face any meaning pest problems or diseases .
Uses For Popcorn Senna
This efflorescence leguminous plant species is grow both as an cosmetic star sign plant , due to its bright , showy flowers , and a cover crop .
It ’s used as a legume green manure .
Pair it with pinkish cosmos and orange dahlia for a bright burst of flower color .
