How to Grow and Care for Sesbania

Although widely used in landscaping for its pleasing flowers, leaves, and fruit, rattlebox (Sesbania punicea) is a Category 1 invasive plant in South Africa, and considered a pest species in other countries as well. Its tendency to form dense, unpassable thickets has a damaging environmental impact, especially near waterways, where it decreases water flow, character, and recreational activities.

Sesbania Pea (Sesbania cannabina) is a plant species that grows in Australia, Hawaii, and Asia. Sesbania Pea increases the nitrogen content of the soil where it is planted. This species is related to the pea.

Bigpod sesbania (Sesbania herbacea) is a semi-woody perennial that will grow from 91 to 305 cm tall. It blooms from late spring to early summer. Flowers are yellow with purple streaks or spots. Seeds ripen after flowers fade and appear in 10 to 20 cm long seedpods that contain 30 to 40 seeds. It is considered a serious weed as it damages crops by overtaking the areas it invades.

Poisonbean (Sesbania drummondii) is an evergreen perennial shrub whose seeds are poisonous to humans, animals, and fish. Small orange-yellow flowers bloom from summer to fall, followed by fruit-producing seed pods that rattle when shaken. It thrives in full sun and moist to wet soil. It is a subtropical plant and does not tolerate freezing temperatures.

Vegetable hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora) is a fast-growing tree, reaching an average height of up to 4.5 m. It is grown both as an ornamental tree to provide shade and as a method to recolonize degraded or eroded soils. Interestingly, gum from vegetable hummingbird is used to make fishing cord more durable.