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Spiny Senna

Senna armata

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

Spiny Senna

In stock

3'x3'

Sizes:

Spiny Senna — Senna armata

Also known as: Desert Senna, Coulter’s Senna
Synonym: Cassia armata

The name armata hints at this plant’s defensive design—“armed” with spiny branches that feel more flexible than sharp. Native to the deserts of eastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and northern Baja California, Spiny Senna grows in dry washes, sandy areas, and rocky hillsides, often seen alongside Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Cheese Bush (Ambrosia salsola), and native cacti.

This small desert shrub usually grows to about 3 feet tall, forming a low, spreading shape with narrow, grooved stems that often end in soft, spine-like tips. The branches are covered in fine hairs, which help protect the plant from dry desert winds. Its tiny leaves grow in pairs, but they’re short-lived—dropping off soon after they appear, leaving the plant bare for much of the year.

From April to May, Spiny Senna puts on a lovely display of yellow to orange flowers, which are small but fragrant and showy, standing out brightly against the pale branches. These blooms are a valuable seasonal food source for butterflies, and the plant also improves the soil by forming a partnership with bacteria that help turn nitrogen from the air into a form plants can use—a unique benefit of being part of the pea family.

Spiny Senna is a smart choice for desert gardens, wildlife habitats, and erosion-prone areas, especially where other plants struggle to grow. It supports pollinators and butterflies while quietly enriching the soil.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe); Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae); Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Nectar Source: Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe); Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)
Bird Resources: Shelter
Bird Species: Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata); Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun

Mature size:

3'x3'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Yellow

Flower season:

Spring; Summer

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

15 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.