Cassia

The genus Cassia includes about 600 species of plants-perennial grasses, shrubs, semi-shrubs and small trees, occasionally lianas, evergreen or deciduous. Some of them are widely used as ornamental plants due to their paired-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers collected in racemes; other species have medicinal properties. Southern cassia (Cassia australis) is a deciduous shrub up to 2.0-2.5 m high. Cassia corymbosa (C. corymbosa) is an evergreen shrub up to 2 m tall, with a support of up to 5-6 m, with oblong - lanceolate leaves and golden-yellow cup-shaped flowers with very long stamens. Cassia tubulata (C. fistulata) is an evergreen or deciduous (depending on temperature and humidity) tree with medicinal properties, up to 5 m high, with large fragrant flowers. Sweet beans grow up to 0.5 m in length and have laxative qualities. Cassia javanica (C. javanica) is a deciduous tree up to 40 m high; the fruit is long beans. Cassia marylandica (C. marylandica) is a semi-shrub species with a height of more than 1 m. The flowers have purple anthers.

The genus Cassia includes about 600 species of plants-perennial grasses, shrubs, semi-shrubs and small trees, occasionally lianas, evergreen or deciduous. Some of them are widely used as ornamental plants due to their paired-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers collected in racemes; other species have medicinal properties.

Southern cassia (Cassia australis) is a deciduous shrub up to 2.0-2.5 m high.

Cassia corymbosa (C. corymbosa) is an evergreen shrub up to 2 m tall, with a support of up to 5-6 m, with oblong - lanceolate leaves and golden-yellow cup-shaped flowers with very long stamens.

Cassia tubulata (C. fistulata) is an evergreen or deciduous (depending on temperature and humidity) tree with medicinal properties, up to 5 m high, with large fragrant flowers. Sweet beans grow up to 0.5 m in length and have laxative qualities.

Cassia javanica (C. javanica) is a deciduous tree up to 40 m high; the fruit is long beans.

Cassia marylandica (C. marylandica) is a semi-shrub species with a height of more than 1 m. The flowers have purple anthers.

Cultivation

Cassia is widely used in gardening as an ornamental, used as a medicinal and insecticidal plant (Alexandrian leaf, or senna leaf). They are grown in the open ground (in mild climates) or in pots (in moderately cold ones), removing them for the winter indoors, and in the warm season they are taken out into the fresh air. Plant in open ground in spring; grow well on light sandy loam unsalted soils; apply organic fertilizers (manure or compost) at the rate of 1.0-1.5 kg/m2. Place it in a sunny place protected from the wind. When growing in a pot, a layer of pebbles or other drainage material is placed on the bottom. The soil mixture consists of fertile land, peat and sand (2:1:1) with the addition of organic fertilizers at the rate of 500 g per bucket of soil. In spring and summer, once every 20 days, 15 g of mineral complex fertilizer is dissolved in water for irrigation per bucket for fertilizing. In the spring, shrubs are pruned to adjust the height and shape.

Cassia is widely used in gardening as an ornamental, used as a medicinal and insecticidal plant (Alexandrian leaf, or senna leaf). They are grown in the open ground (in mild climates) or in pots (in moderately cold ones), removing them for the winter indoors, and in the warm season they are taken out into the fresh air. Plant in open ground in spring; grow well on light sandy loam unsalted soils; apply organic fertilizers (manure or compost) at the rate of 1.0-1.5 kg/m2. Place it in a sunny place protected from the wind. When growing in a pot, a layer of pebbles or other drainage material is placed on the bottom. The soil mixture consists of fertile land, peat and sand (2:1:1) with the addition of organic fertilizers at the rate of 500 g per bucket of soil. In spring and summer, once every 20 days, 15 g of mineral complex fertilizer is dissolved in water for irrigation per bucket for fertilizing. In the spring, shrubs are pruned to adjust the height and shape.

Location

Plants are light-loving. It requires a place in the open sun or at least very bright.

Temperature

Plants are thermophilic, resistant to high air temperature, do not tolerate temperatures below 7-9 °C.

Watering

Plentifully watered in the hot season.

Transplant

Transplanted in spring, in pots more spacious, compared to the previous ones, until a container with a diameter of 30 cm is used.

Reproduction

They are propagated by seed in spring. You can also take lignified cuttings in July-August and immediately plant them in the ground. In both cases, a mixture of peat and agroperlite (or sand) is used in equal parts. As soon as it becomes possible to take the seedlings in your hands (or when the cuttings have roots), they are transplanted one at a time, and then, next spring, planted on a permanent planting site.

Diseases

Leaf spots and rotting stems and root necks are caused by fungi of the genera Cercospora and Cladosporium. They get rid of them with the help of fungicides. Leafworm larvae gnaw through tiny passages in the leaves. Worms and aphids suck out nutrients, and their secretions develop worms. Pests are eliminated with the help of anticoccidal drugs and other suitable means.

Acquisition

Seeds and ready-made seedlings can be found in nurseries and gardening centers. The seeds must be fresh and recently harvested, which guarantees their germination. Plants are chosen compact and without signs of diseases.

Very similar genus Until recently, species of the modern genus Senna were included inthe genus Cassia. The main properties of the two species and the requirements for their growing conditions are very similar. Senna alata is an evergreen shrub species up to 4 m tall or a tree that reaches a height of 10 m. The flowers are golden yellow, collected in erect spike-shaped inflorescences, bloom for a long time. Senna alexandrina (S. alexandrina) is a perennial herbaceous species with flowers collected in erect racemes. Senna bicapsularis (s. bicapsularis) - a shrub up to 9 m high; flowers have a wider sail than other species; they are collected in brushes (easily folded).

Very similar genus

Until recently, species of the modern genus Senna were included inthe genus Cassia. The main properties of the two species and the requirements for their growing conditions are very similar.

Senna alata is an evergreen shrub species up to 4 m tall or a tree that reaches a height of 10 m. The flowers are golden yellow, collected in erect spike-shaped inflorescences, bloom for a long time.

Senna alexandrina (S. alexandrina) is a perennial herbaceous species with flowers collected in erect racemes.

Senna bicapsularis (s. bicapsularis) - a shrub up to 9 m high; flowers have a wider sail than other species; they are collected in brushes (easily folded).