Scorpion Senna Care
Hippocrepis emerus
A drought-tolerant shrub from the legume (Fabaceae) family that produces its own nitrogen. It loves full sun and well-drained, calcareous soils; it produces bright yellow flowers over a long period from spring into summer.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- General care: Make sure drainage is good for the winter rains.
- Pests & diseases: Root rot is the biggest risk. Frost protection is not needed; it is hardy.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
- Pruning: If needed, hard pruning may be done to rejuvenate very old or straggly plants (however, this will reduce flowering for that year).
- General care: Clear weeds.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, every 2-3 weeks (5 L/plant).
- Fertilizing: Not needed. It fixes nitrogen, and fertilizing may be harmful.
- General care: Observe the new shoots.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, every 2 weeks (5-7 L/plant).
- Plant protection: Aphids may be seen on the new shoots; they generally do not harm the plant.
- General care: Observe the flowering.
- Watering: Once a week (7-10 L per plant).
- Pruning: Not needed; enjoy the flowers.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering.
- General care: Watering once after pruning helps it recover.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- General care: It can be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
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