06/23/2026
Velvet leaf Senna available now at
Native Landscapes & Nursery
388 large lane
Leakey Tx
830-232-4388
[email protected]
Open by appointment during the week.
Open weekends Sat and Sun 10-4
1 gallon pots available $10
Our plants are young and not yet blooming.
Senna lindheimeriana, or Lindheimer's senna, is a bushy, perennial shrub native to Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico, known for its soft, velvety leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom in late summer and fall. Also called "puppy-dog ears," it's a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in rocky, limestone soils and is excellent for wildflower gardens, attracting butterflies and birds, though it's toxic to livestock if ingested in large quantities.
Characteristics
Appearance: An erect, bushy plant, 3–6 feet tall, with soft, hairy, grayish-green compound leaves.
Flowers: Bright yellow, with five crinkled petals, appearing in spike-like clusters from late summer to fall (August–October).
Fruit: Produces flat seed pods that dry and burst open in winter.
Habitat and care
Native Range: Edwards Plateau, Trans-Pecos, and into Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Soil: Prefers dry, rocky, well-drained soils, especially limestone-based soils.
Light: Full sun to part shade.
Water: Low water needs; avoid overwatering to prevent leggy growth.
Maintenance: Can be pruned to shape after it becomes dormant.
Wildlife and uses
Wildlife: A larval host for Sulphur and Sleepy Orange butterflies; seeds are a food source for birds.
Garden Use: Excellent as a specimen or background plant in wildflower gardens.
Toxicity: Foul-smelling and unpalatable, it's generally avoided by livestock, but can be toxic if forced to eat it.
