Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Shrubs ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Lindheimer Senna, Velvetleaf cassia (Senna Lindheimerii), Caesalpiniaceae Family, Texas native, perennial, blooms late May through October, poisonous to animals

The one with bright yellow blooms ...

Velvetleaf senna is found mostly in the Edwards Plateau, South Plains west through the Trans-Pecos and to Arizona and south into Mexico. It is common in shallow limestone, sandy, sandy loam soils on hillsides and rocky ravines. Dry, rocky soils. It does best in exceptionally well-drained alkaline soils.

Velvetleaf senna is an erect, perennial that has one to several velvety stems arising from a deep, woody root. The up to 6 in. (15 cm) long, pinnately compound soft leaves have four to eight pairs of leaflets, Each leaflet is 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5.0 cm) long and are rounded or oblong. They are covered with fine, velvety hairs (especially the undersides) that are soft and silvery. The leaf color varies by native region with western populations being greener and eastern ones more silver. About 1-1.25 inches across, bright yellow to yellow-orange flowers (5 to more than 20) are held in short racemes near the tips of the stems. The seeds are formed in elongated pods. Pinch back the tips to make the plant fuller and blooming more profuse if desired.

Seeds provide an important source of food for birds. It is a butterfly nectar source and a larval host for the Sleepy Orange and other Sulphur butterflies. Although drought tolerant, In the desert regions, it needs to be watered two or three times a month in the summer to do its best flowering and to keep the plants in good condition. In its native regions or in milder areas this species needs only intermittent watering during a drought. Plants freeze to the ground at 20°F (−7°C) but recover quickly Plant velvetleaf senna makes a great specimen plant and looks great as an accent in rock gardens. xeriscapes and wildscapes.

It is known to be a strong laxative when the leaves are brewed into a tea. It can also be toxic if eaten by livestock. Velvetleaf senna is very unpalatable and is consumed only during severe drought and other unusual circumstances. The chemicals responsible for the toxicity are not known. The symptoms are diarrhea, dark urine and weakness. Most animals that are poisoned by Lindheimer Senna do not recover.

A flower which may have a more orange-yelow color then this type ...