Other Names:  Downy Senna, Cassia tomentosa

Description:

A medium sized airy shrub or tree with small oval, fuzzy compound leaves, covered with large golden-yellow flowers in mid-winter; excellent as a loose screen or tall border planting; can be invasive

Ornamental Features

Buttercup Bush features showy clusters of gold star-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches in early fall. It has attractive dark green deciduous foliage. The fuzzy oval compound leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. The fruits are showy green pods displayed in mid spring.

Landscape Attributes

Buttercup Bush is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering
• Invasive

Buttercup Bush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Buttercup Bush will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.