Coffee senna is a pantropical or subtropical weed in the Fabaceae (pea) family found in moist, disturbed or waste areas in lower elevations around the world. Originally native to the Americas, it has been widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics and is commonly naturalized in many areas. In these non-seasonal zones, the plants can bloom all year round. Coffee senna requires full sun, in a deep, well-drained, moderately fertile sandy loamy soil. It prefers a moderate pH but will grow in alkaline soils as well. It is easily propagated by seed. The seeds may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. Even though the plant has poisonous characteristics if taken in large quantities, almost all parts of the plant (leaf, flower, root, seeds) are used as food and medicine by various peoples in many parts of the world. The seeds are often used as a substitute for coffee. The root and dried flowers are brewed as a type of tea to treat gastrointestinal issues, colds and flu, and circulatory problems. Poultices made from the roots and flowers are used to treat skin disorders such as eczema. There are many other uses. The leaves, seeds and flowers are steamed and eaten as a vegetable. Coffee senna grows in disturbed environments in and around abandoned fields/houses and roadsides. The plant has a strong disagreeable odor when crushed. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant has poisonous characteristics to humans if taken in large quantities. The plant is poisonous to cattle. It is considered a weed in cultivated fields and plantations and can accumulate in heavily grazed pastures as the cattle won't eat it.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Compound pinnate leaves 4-5 pairs of gray green leaflets 2 1/2" long and 3/4" wide. Leaflets are oblong, elliptic with a pointed tip.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Edible; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Orange yellow to yellow, not typical pea-like flowers, raceme or panicle of flowers 1/2"-1" long. Flowers have 5 yellow sepals, 5 yellow petals, 10 dark brown stamens.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The seed pods are long, dark brown and curve slightly upward. They have separate segments, each containing a seed. The seeds are olive - brown and flattened on both ends. The seeds can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Light green stout central stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical & Subtropical Americas
Distribution
Pantropical areas around the world
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Legume
Edibility
All parts of the plant are edible
Uses (ethnobotany)
All parts of the plant (leaf, flower, root, seeds) are used as food and medicine by various peoples in many parts of the world.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Riparian
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Garden tags
#edible #riparian #yellow flowers #low maintenance #flowers late summer #gray-green leaves #full sun #medicinal #food source summer #poisonous #food source fall #weedy