Plant Profile: Popcorn Plant
Smells are powerful, and the scent of popcorn plant (Senna didymobotrya) will bring you right back to the movie theaters of your childhood. This plant, which is also called cassia, smells so much like buttered popcorn that you’ll swear it is a relative of corn.
The blooms of popcorn plant look a bit like popcorn but the scent comes from the leaves.
It’s not, though. Popcorn plant is a member of the legume family and is native to tropical sections of Africa. For northern gardeners, this is an unusual and fun annual plant, and is especially popular with children. The scent emanates not from the blooms, but from the leaves, which run in pairs up and down the branches. Leaves can be up to 3 inches long with a dozen or more pairs along each branch. To bring out the popcorn smell, just run your fingers along the leaves and then smell them. If the smell is not enough, the blooms of the plant look like unusual popcorn ears and each bright yellow bud resembles popped corn.
In its native habitat, popcorn plant is a shrub, growing 10 to 25 feet tall. Here, it will typically stay between 2 and 3 feet tall after a season of growing with the blooms rising tall and straight above the leaves. Popcorn plant grows well in containers, and while it is not difficult to grow, it has its demands. The plant loves hot, humid weather (it comes from the tropics, so that makes sense) and it likes lots of sun, water and fertilizer. If you grow it in a container, plan to water daily and fertilize on a regular schedule for best growth. Popcorn plant typically flowers in late summer into fall.
Some gardeners bring plants indoors for winter, storing them in greenhouses to get them through to next spring. While it can be grown from seed, most home gardeners buy it as a start in the spring and treat popcorn plant as an annual.
One important thing to remember: Popcorn plant is poisonous. So, if you have pets who nibble on plants or small children, this might be a plant to avoid.
Have you ever grown popcorn plant?
The leaves of popcorn plant have an intriguing shape and they smell just like popcorn.
Yes. I have grown them for years.. I always worry that Bachman’s will not have them..love that plant so does everyone that comes to my garden. I live near Lake Nokomis ..they grow well for me
Hi meem, no worries . .u can order the seeds online. I did:)
Hi Beth where can I order seeds? I have been on the search for a popcorn plant.
I just planted two popcorn Cassia plants today, between the Datura in the back of my Eagan garden. Our deer and bunnies will know better than to visit.
I live in Ohio if I plant outside how well will it likelycome.up every year?
It’s hardy in zones 9, 10 and 11 — so the far south. It’s an annual here in Minnesota and probably in your area as well.
can I grow this in St Paul MN
Yes, you can. We grow it at the Minnesota State Fair. It’s beautiful in late summer.
My container popcorn plant has black spots on the leaves. I’ve treated with neem oil and prune leaves but it’s still getting black spots! Help! In N.C.
maybe due to watering on cloudy days or late in the day/evening.
Do you cut off the stem of flowers after the are done flowering
Do I cut the blooms out to make new blooms?
Yes, you can do that.
My plant has branches without leaves. Can I cut them off? It’s 3’ tall. I read to bring it in in the winter, I should cut it back to 1/2 it’s height. Has anyone ever done this?
Yes, you can cut off branches without leaves. I’ve never heard of people overwintering popcorn plant, but it’s worth a try.
I read that it is invasive in some states. What about Oklahoma?
Popcorn plant has been somewhat invasive in Africa, which is its native range. It’s classified as a USDA Zone 9 plant, so it would be considered an annual in Oklahoma. Thanks for commenting!
Hello I have a popcorn plant outside that is very tall and I am afraid it mite die due to the cold I thinks its too tall and big to bring inside dont have a pot big enough to hold it. Its starting to get cold out here I am in Maryland please help me save my plant.what do I do
It is now Sept and the popcorn plant never bloomed but is 5ft tall, plenty of sun and water. Any ideas why no blooms.
I’m not sure why it would not bloom. This summer has been cooler and much wetter than normal. Because it’s a tropical plant, I don’t think the wetness bothers popcorn plant, but the relatively cool temperatures might. Luckily, the scent (my favorite part of the plant) is on the leaves.
First time grower in Kentucky and mine didn’t bloom last year, but I kept it in a pot and placed it under a plant light over the winter. Just put it in the ground today as it has started to flower and is over 3 feet tall.
I have collected a bunch of seed from my plant. I tried to get them to germinate but was not successful. I did soak them. I have more to try but wondered if you had any other tips.
Thank you!
I’m from the Rapid City, SD area and this was my first year of growing a popcorn plant. Mine didn’t bloom either, but enjoyed the smell, also my neighbors.
I just brought in my popcorn plant ( first time owner). I understand that It is poisonous. I have a cat that likes to “check” out plants. How do protect her from the plant
I just found out about the plant being poisonous by reading your website. The tag and sell didn’t say the seller didn’t know. I have several other plants including a Bonsi plant (tea tree ) which she checked out now leaves alone. But I am still concerned!
I bought a couple of these plants and had a great experience in pots over the summer. One very interesting thing happened – quite a few times I had female orioles on my deck picking on the brown flower pods….I’m not sure why and hope it’s not poisonous for them ? It was fun to watch but not sure what the attraction was…. there was no seed for them..? I live in ND, bought these plants at Bachman’s and will try to overwinter them just for fun!
There should be seeds in the pods. I don’t think the plant is poisonous to birds. Here’s a nice profile of it:
This will be my first try with the popcorn plant. Saw first one at the gardens in Madison, wi. The smell of popcorn led me to it.
Where can I purchase plant in mpls area
I’ve seen them at Mother Earth Gardens in Minneapolis, but they would be at many garden center. You may want to call ahead to ensure they have them.
Sunnyside Gardens in Linden Hills carries them but get there early because they go fast.
Why don’t my leaves smell? The stem has a faint scent. But nothing from the leaves!
Laura — Perceptions of the smell vary from person to person — some people think the plant smells like a wet dog, for instance. Perhaps the plant will develop more of a scent as the year goes on.
You have to run your fingers over the leaves to release the scent.
Our Popcorn plant just started to bloom. Looks very cool, real right yellow! This is the first year I’ve noticed the plant at the west Michigan garden centers.
How long does it take the seeds to germinate?
My first popcorn plant. Bought it at 4 “, it’s 3 ft tall now. I live in south Jersey. It looks like a beautiful corn plant now, but from what I am reading, it will soon have yellow flowers and kernels. This is what I was curious about. When and where the kernels develop?
My husband x fertilized this year and I added sprinkle miracle grow. It’s also been very humid and plenty hot weather.
Those seem like the 3 requirements, and water. I can’t wait to see what happens. My daughter- in law, and granddaughter touched it,
So I said, wash hands, but apparently , u can’t ” eat” green parts, so it’s ok .
Any more info would be great
Thank you, Lisa stein west creek, nj
I love popcorn cassia for it’s scent and unique growth habit. It’s easy to grow from seed but my plants don’t produce many seed pods. I have beautiful foliage and flowers all summer long. Plenty of water and fertilizer. My small back yard gets plenty of sun and heat that it loves. Any ideas?
Did you plant in the ground or container? If in ground will it come back next year?
In ground at our State Fair garden and it will not come back. It’s an annual in Minnesota.
Anyone have luck with propagation from cuttings?
This unique beautiful plant has been the highlight of my summer garden! ($1.78 for a small pot before the greenhouse closed) Everyone is amazed by the delicious buttered-popcorn smell! It’s been fun to watch the leaves close in the evening (like the “prayer plant”) or when it wants water.… So I think this plant can talk too!
Hi we live in southern Ontario, Canada.
We’re given a popcorn plant and it’s done very well. My question is has anyone tried cutting it back in the fall and covering it up to see if it will come back in the spring/summer next year?
Hi Sheila! I grew one last year in a flower pot and then tried to save it through winter in a small greenhouse. It did not make it, it’s such a tender plant when it comes to cold temps. When it got down to 35 degrees that’s when it started to look pretty rough. This year I have two more that I grew again in flower pots, both grew to 8ft tall and I have brought them into our garage for the winter. They are in a protected place. They have started to lose their leaves, which they say is normal, just cut back on the watering slightly as it goes dormant for the winter. Then water sparingly. So long as the stems stay green and pliable, it’s alive and can be brought out in the spring when temps warm up again. Keep in a shaded place when temps are warmer during the day, then bring back in at night if they drop below 40 degrees. It will send out new shoots of leaves and you can start to move it back into the sun. With regular watering and fertilizer, it will be blooming soon after. Both popcorn plants have done very well in the garage when we hit cold temps this last week. Hope this helps and hope yours makes it through the winter months! 🙂
Have you ever cut yours down? Mine is about 6 feet tall right now, but there is a lot of stem/trunk to it. I have a new shoot coming off of the bottom as well. I am wondering if I should transplant that shoot or leave it? My huge pot doesn’t hardly seem huge enough anymore.
Can you be allergic to this plant? The smell is overpowering and will have to move it out of my sewing room…makes me sneeze and my throat tingle.
Yes, it’s always possible to be allergic to a plant. In Minnesota, popcorn plant is usually grown outside in summer. Having it in a closed space might be why you are reacting. Hope you feel better soon!
I live in NE Iowa and bought my popcorn cassia when it was 6″ tall. 2 months later, it has flourished and is 2 ft. tall with one bloom pod developing and opening gradually. I will try to winter it inside the house when temps drop but my concern is how many branches it has put out. I would like to prune back the bottom limbs that extend nearly as long as it is tall, but realize now (July 4th) isn’t an ideal time for pruning. If the growth continues in our hot, humid Iowa summer, it will be nearly too big to bring into the house to over-winter. Can/should I prune back some of the limbs (maybe those with no blossom pods) now? This is my first experience with a popcorn cassia and was not expecting it to grow so fast, but am totally enjoying the process.
I would not prune it now. Maybe wait until you bring it in in the fall. Let us know how it does.
I have received this gift 7 days ago. I positioned it, still in pot, in a spot that gets 6 hrs direct sun, water it daily, but my leaves are getting yellow spots ( like a rash )… growing new solid green ones, so what should I do?
I bought 2 popcorn plants, each about 18 ” in May. Gave 1 away, it arrived with 5 blossoms, since, no new blossoms and grew very little. The 2nd one I kept, planted in the ground, almost full sun, gets fed, watered regularly. The main shoot is about 5 1/2 feet with 5 secondary branches, each about 4 feet. There is absolutely NO sign of any blossoms to be had. It is now mid August. It does however attract bees of some sort, lots of them.. How do I get the yellow blossoms and why so many bees, I do not want bees. I am in Eden Prairie MN.
Not sure what website means for fill in the blanks…..
Same! I’m in Roseville (mn) and my popcorn plant is 5 ft tall, and 5 ft wide. It’s very lush, full, and healthy – but hasn’t bloomed once!
It’s in sun all day, is watered regularly, and fed about 5 times since May. I used a slow release Miracle-Gro Organic fertilizer after planting. Then bone meal, then chicken manure, then Coast of Maine Buds & Blooms, and then Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster (about 2 weeks ago).
So, I have bees, as well, but ever since spring, it has had dozens and dozens of ANTS!! It’s like an ant hi-rise. There is an ant at every intersection, leaf, level, like they all have their own “spot”. They seem to frantically eat something off the orangish/yellowish papery sheaths (or whatever they are called). It’s like they’re getting high off the oil, or something!
There are – what look like – tiny 1/4 in flower buds running along each long stalk. I picked one off and split it open, and it looked good to me. Not dried out, or anything. I’ve wondered if the ants are damaging or stunting these buds, somehow. Or maybe these aren’t flower buds, at all!