Cassia Species for Sulphurs

Butterflies are truly specialists. Each species of butterfly only has one plant or family of plants on which its larvae may host. For the sulphur family of butterflies, Cassias (also known as sennas) are required to feed their caterpillars. In the butterfly gardens we have several species of Cassias which are hosts to the gorgeous Sulphur butterflies of the Tampa Bay region.

• Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), 
• Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 
• Orange-barred Giant Sulphur (Phoebis philea) 

Bahama Cassia (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii) Bahama Cassia is native to zones 10 and higher, including South Florida. As a result of the shifting climate, much of Tampa is now in USDA zone 9b, and we experience hard freezes only once very few years. Because of that change, Bahama Cassia is easier to grow now in Central Florida, especially in sheltered spots. Bahama cassia resembles Winter Cassia (Cassia bicapsularis) but the pointed leaves and year-round blooms are an easy giveaway when telling these two apart.

Candlestick Cassia (Cassia alata) is one of our most lovely members of the Cassia family. Native to Argentina, it grows 6 to 12 feet and height and its blooms resemble fat yellow candles before the individual flowers open. Check out these blossom spikes early in the morning and you can note neat patterns of water droplets inside the unopened blooms. Candlestick cassia is a beautiful showy plant and caterpillars are easy to find on its broad leaves. Just look for the tiny holes that have been chewed there! Seedpods on this plant are easy to find because they are HUGE!

Winter Cassia (Cassia bicapsularis) is yet another of the plants to bear the irritatingly common name of "Butterfly Bush" that refers to about a dozen unrelated species. This cassia is native to the tropical areas of the Americas and is so named Winter Cassia because it puts on a showy bloom of yellow each winter. When blooming, the Winter Cassia is a mass of eye catching yellow that is sure to turn heads and generate lots of requests for cuttings and seed sharing.

Sicklepod Cassia (Cassia obtusifolia) is so named for its long sickle-shaped seed pods which begin to form in late summer and mature in the fall. A true annual, Sicklepod will die back entirely each winter in the frost and will sprout from seeds around the beginning of summer. Blooming with small golden flowers, this plant is fast growing and attractive often reaching heights near to six foot. Sicklepod cassia is lovely in a garden but care should be taken to control its spread. This plant is known as a nuisance weed and tends to spread readily among food crops. Due to its fast growing nature this Cassia can outperform food and grain crops making it a serious problem for farmers. The seeds of Sicklepod Cassia can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities, especially by poultry and cattle. This species is not recommended for home gardens.