Flower profile
American sicklepod
Senna obtusifolia
American sicklepod is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Georgia it's most often seen in bloom in July–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Georgia
Quick look
Senna obtusifolia, known by common names including Chinese senna, American sicklepod and sicklepod, is a plant in the genus Senna, sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Diallobus. It grows wild in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and is considered a particularly problematic weed in many places.
- It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Georgia. NatureServe
- In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 917 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #101 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
American sicklepod gift ideas
Handmade american sicklepod gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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American sicklepod art print
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American sicklepod greeting card
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American sicklepod mug
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American sicklepod earrings
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American sicklepod embroidery pattern
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American sicklepod sticker
When does it bloom?
In Georgia, most flowering sightings come in July–October.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Georgia
- Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: seeds. Symptoms they list: “TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES ARE EATEN. Diarrhea, tremors, dark brown urine.” They also note: “Young shoots; only collect plants from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Gather the young shoots in July or early August. Safe food procedures: soak young shoots in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. The shoots have an unpleasant odor in its raw state but this disappears after cooking. Boil in salted water for five minutes, pour off this first water and add fresh boiling and salted water. Boil for another eight minutes. Serve as a vegetable.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records American sicklepod in 29 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Georgia counties with USDA records: Camden, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Cook, DeKalb, Echols, Elbert, Fulton, Grady, Harris, Hart, Houston, Irwin, Jones, Lincoln, McIntosh, Morgan, Muscogee, Taylor.
More Georgia flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SEOB4.
- iNaturalist, Senna obtusifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Senna obtusifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Senna obtusifolia (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Nonbinary-Naturalist via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.