# Candelabra Bush (*Senna alata*) The Candelabra Bush is a bright and beautiful plant with tall, candle-like flowers. It grows in warm places and can be found in gardens and parks, adding color to the landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Candelabra Plant, Candle Bush ![Candelabra Bush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Candle_Bush_%28Senna_alata%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dave Whitinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Candle_Bush_%28Senna_alata%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Candelabra Bush is a large, upright shrub with striking, bright yellow flowers arranged in tall, candle-like spikes. Its large, dark green leaves are compound and can grow up to two feet long, giving it a lush, tropical appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Senna ## Interesting facts - It's also called 'Ringworm Bush' because its leaves were once used to treat skin conditions! - Its tall flower spikes look like lit candles, giving it its unique name! - Some cultures plant this bush near homes, believing it brings good luck and protection! - The scientific name, Senna alata, means 'winged senna' because of its unique seed pods! ## Special abilities - **Leafy Snooze Button:** Candelabra Bush can fold its large leaves together at night, helping it save water and protect itself from cold or harsh sun. - **Nature's Remedy:** Candelabra Bush has compounds in its leaves and flowers that have been used traditionally for their medicinal properties. - **Speedy Sprout:** Candelabra Bush can grow very quickly, sometimes several feet in a single season, allowing it to quickly establish itself. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Summer to Fall (can be year-round in tropics) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Eats:** [Cloudless Sulphur](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cloudless-sulphur) (*Phoebis sennae*) — Larvae munch on its leaves for food. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Fixes nitrogen in its roots to help it grow. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be careful around plants and don't touch without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Candelabra Bush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Candelabra Bush? 150-400 cm ### How wide does Candelabra Bush spread? 100-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on Candelabra Bush? 2-3 cm ### When does Candelabra Bush bloom? Late Summer to Fall (can be year-round in tropics) ### Is Candelabra Bush edible? No ### Is Candelabra Bush toxic? Mild ### What is Candelabra Bush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Flamingo Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flamingo-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park - [South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texas-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Ravenall Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ravenall-park) — Florida, US · Park [View all places to see Candelabra Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/candelabra-bush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Candelabra Bush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/candelabra-bush)