Sesbania cannabina Seeds | Sesbania
LATIN NAME: Sesbania cannabina
COMMON NAME: Sesbania
Plant Profile
Sesbania cannabina, commonly known as Sesbania, is a fast-growing, upright, annual in the pea family. Sesbania is slender green legume of wet fields, and orange, pea-like flowers hang among fine, pinnate leaves. Fast-growing, upright, annual or short-lived perennial plant carries fine, pinnate leaves of many small leaflets and hanging clusters of small, orange, pea-like flowers with red markings through warm season, to be followed by slender, thin pods. Plant is a fine, generous presence of warm garden, green-manure plot and wet edge. The blooms are worked steadily by bees for as long as they are open. It is the sort of plant that quietly justifies the space it occupies.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the pea family, Sesbania cannabina is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Sesbania works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Sesbania is a fine, generous plant of warm garden and wet edge. Hanging clusters of small, orange, pea-like flowers open through warm season, drawing bees, and plant feeds soil with nitrogen, growing fast into fine, green bulk of green-manure plot. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Sesbanias are rocket-fast green manures and forages, and the flowers of the hummingbird tree are a delicate edible; they fix nitrogen at remarkable speed.
Growing from Seed
Raising Sesbania from seed is straightforward. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Sesbania repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Sesbania often pair it with these related subjects: