Light. Full sun to partial shade.
Water. Water while it establishes. It is quite drought tolerant, but in very dry soil it can die during long droughts, so water in extended dry spells.
Soil and feeding. It prefers well-drained sandy or limestone soil and is at home in alkaline, nutrient-poor ground. Heavy feeding is not needed.
Size. Listed at 3–8 ft; most plants stay 2–4 ft tall and spread 3–6 ft, broader than tall.
Pruning. Cut it back to the ground in spring every few years to renew it.
Problems to watch. Butterfly caterpillars chew the leaves, but the plant recovers. It is short-lived, often declining after 4–5 years, but reseeds.
Good to know. A Florida native, state-listed as threatened. It is a host plant for cloudless sulphur and sleepy orange butterflies. It is not freeze tolerant.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS FPS111: Senna mexicana var. chapmanii, Bahama Cassia · Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Senna mexicana var. chapmanii
