Senna alexandrina, commonly known as Alexandrian Senna, is an evergreen perennial herb that is native to various ecosystems including savannahs, grasslands, and arid desert regions of Africa. It typically grows to a height of 0.5–1 meter (20" to 40"), though it can occasionally reach up to two meters (6’) under optimal conditions. The plant features a branched, pale-green erect stem with long spreading branches. Each branch bears four or five pairs of feathery, pinnate leaves that are arranged in mutual pairs. The yellow flowers, which may fade to brown, are large and showy, arranged in racemes, and bloom in the interior of the plant. Following flowering, it produces distinctive horned legume fruits that are broadly oblong, compressed, and flat, each containing about six seeds.

Alexandrian Senna is valued for its medicinal properties, particularly its use as a natural laxative derived from the dried leaflets and pods. It is also appreciated for its ornamental qualities, such as its attractive foliage and bright yellow flowers. In cultivation, it is used in herb gardens, as a border plant, or for naturalistic plantings. Alexandrian Senna requires full sun exposure, medium amounts of water, and well-drained soils to thrive. While it is relatively low-maintenance, it may need protection from frost in cooler climates.CC BY-SA 4.0