Scarlet sesbane is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the coffee family that is native to South America. It has spread to the coastal plains of the USA and become invasive in some areas. It will grow to 15 feet tall and spread quickly, taking over native plant habitats. Even though it prefers wet sites, it has been found growing in moist disturbed areas as well. The flowers appear all summer and the seed pods remain on the plant all winter, rattling in the wind. The compound leaves are also attractive. This plant prefers wet to moist slightly acidic soils in full sun to part shade. Even though it has been used as an ornamental, it is best not to plant it. There are some suggestions for native or non-invasive small trees to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
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.
Fills a similar nicheAlliumCrocosmia x crocosmiifloraLantana camara 'Miss Huff'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 5-6 inch long compound leaves alternate, pinnately divided with 6-20 pairs of leaflets with smooth margins. Oblong leaflets are 1 inch long with a pointed tip.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Purple/Lavender
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are pea-like, red-orange or reddish purple, in drooping clusters. They have 5 fused petals and 5 fused sepals
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The 4-6 inch fruit is a 4-winged pod with slight constrictions and partitions between the seeds. The remain on the plant through winter and rattle in the wind. They can be dispersed by water
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is gray-brown to red-brown with obvious horizontal lenticels.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Wiry green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Legume
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#showy flowers #red flowers #poisonous #long bloom time #weedy #wetland
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Weedy
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Seeds
Poison symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, depression, respiratory failure; may be fatal.
Toxic principle
Saponic glycosides.
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Seeds