Does Anyone Know What This Plant Is?

Question

I had three of these growing in my front garden last year and did not ever plant them.

Then this year, I have discovered one in the back veggie garden.

Anyone have any idea what it is?

Kristin Crankshaw · Answer

It is a yellow false indigo.

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

HI Kristin - is it a weed or an actual plant? Google images for false yellow indigo don't look like my plant to be honest.

Mine from last year were about 4 feet tall and wide and just took over the garden. Very tough stalks and long bean lik\e pods with yellow flowers that were more insignificant.

The link in my question gives more photos of the plant.

Carol

Phyllis Downey · Answer

I am glad you asked about this as it may also be popping up in my beds. I think it is a Cassia plant. If so it has lovely yellow flowers in late summer/fall in zone 8b where i live near the SC coast. Does anyone else think so?

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

Hi Phyllis.

I just Googled Cassia and it does look very much like my plant. Thanks so much for the information. I will add it to the post that I have on my website about the plant!

Carol

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

I found this link to a page on Google http://butterflies.heuristron.net/plants/cassiabicapsularis.html. It seems to be identical to my plant and definitely does attract the butterflies and bees. And I thought it was a weed! Carol

Nancy Hand · Answer

Weed! Coffee weed! pull it and throw it in the trash. They will be all over the place. :)

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

LOL Now I am confused. I was so sure it was a cassia. I did remove the ones from last year and they did spread, but that picture of the cassia sure does look exactly like my plant.

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

Actually you are both right. Coffee weed is also called Cassia obtusifolia. Description that I found was 2 to 3 pairs of leaflets that are broader near the end than near the base. Grows up to 5 feet tall. Yellow flowers bloom from June until frost and are replaced by very slender, curved, 9-inch pods. Poisonous if consumed in large quantities. Can host the tobacco etch virus. Nevertheless, it has been used both for food and medicine. Nomadic tribal people in North Africa make a paste out of the leaves and ferment it as a source of protein. Tea made from the seeds is used to treat fatigue, stomachaches, and headaches, probably because of caffeine content. Found in the Acadiana Nature Park along the levee.

That is definitiely what I had in the front yard. And you are right Nancy...it does spread. Even digging it out was a chore.

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

Thanks for the help ladies!

Judy Bond · Answer

Girl, if you lived in the South in the 60's, 70's, & 80's when everyone had a huge garden you might remember the coffee weed! About the only thing worse in our garden when I was a girl was bermuda grass. I agree with Nancy! Pull that thing up and throw it in the trash. They spread quickly and are very difficult to get rid of!

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

I've discovered more of them in the back yard near my compost pile. Guess I should not have composted last years plants! :(

Carol Speake - The Gardening Cook · Answer

Sadly, I have Bermuda grass too. sigh... a 'twofer'

Julie Burnell · Answer

<div>Buttercup</div>

Syamalee · Answer

This is Cassia Tora a medicinal herb in our country.The leaves are edible.They spread rapidly .

Does Anyone Know What This Plant Is?

Suggested Project Book

If Your Stairway Walls Are Empty, Here's What You're Missing

Other

More

Does Anyone Know What This Plant Is?

Suggested Project Book

Related Discussions