I have many of these - dmail me if you want some for sase.
Edited to add this information:
General Culture:
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where it is grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. In the St. Louis area, these plants are perhaps best grown as annuals. Start seed indoors in February-March and plant outside after last frost date. Seed can be collected from plants in fall and used for starting new plants indoors the following late winter. Container plants can be grown on patios in summer and overwintered in a greenhouse or sun room, but can be otherwise somewhat difficult to overwinter in a home. Overwintered plants should be watered very lightly in winter and then cut back in early spring to control size and shape.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Empress candle plant or candle bush is so named because the erect flower spikes when in bud resemble yellow candles. It is also commonly called ringworm cassia because the plant leaves were once used to treat ringworm. It is an evergreen tropical shrub or tree that typically grows to 12-30’ tall in its native habitat. In St. Louis, it can grow rapidly to 6-8’ tall in a single growing season if started by seed indoors in late winter. Features pinnately compound medium to dark green leaves (to 30” long), each with 7-14 pairs of leaflets. Bright yellow 5-petaled cup-shaped flowers bloom bottom to top in erect axillary racemes in fall. Flowers give way to winged bean-like seedpods (6-8” long) which also add ornamental interest. Cassia alata and Senna alata are synonymous.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for leaf miners. Aphids and whiteflies may visit indoor plants.
Uses:
In the tropics, it is grown as an ornamental flowering shrub or small tree. In St. Louis, grow from seed and group or mass as an annual for its excellent foliage, architectural height and fall flowers. May also be grown in patio containers or tubs.
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001-2009
This message was edited Nov 12, 2009 4:24 PM
CLOSED: Have: Cassia alata seeds for postage
Dmailed ya! :)
I dmailed you. According to something I just read, they can be grown as a annual in my zone (6a). If anyone has ever tried this or known it to be true or not please let me know.
Dixie, check my original post - I have added some information that may help.
I'd really like to try this and have D-mailed you.
Thanks,
Susan
Cassia alata is very easy to start from seed. They also store very well and stay viable for years without any diminishing of germination time.
Being hard coat seeds, you can speed up germination by cutting a sliver of the coat off with sharp scissors .. you only want to cut enough off to where you get past the coat and the inside is visible. Then plant the seeds about a half inch under potting mix which is kept moist but not wet. Germination can take just a few days or as long as a week or 2 .. bottom heat will speed it up.
X
Under ideal conditions, feeding and right environment, you can go from seed to flower in about 6 months.
X
Offer closed. Thanks!
X, it's very pretty. Is it invasive in our zone?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/371/
Read these testimonies about this plant.
It is not invasive if you keep the seed pods cut off before they burst open and disperse the seeds.