Skip to main content

Poison-bean

Sesbania drummondii

Last reviewed: August 2026

Poison-bean (Sesbania drummondii)
Photo: (c) Terry Woodward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Terry Woodward

Toxicity unknown

Poison-bean (Sesbania drummondii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–48" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, FL, LA, TX

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Poison-bean.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Edwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsSoutheastern PlainsMississippi Alluvial PlainSouthern Coastal Plain

Sesbania drummondii is an annual wildflower that produces bright orange to yellow pea-like flowers from late spring through fall. This native legume grows 1-4 feet tall with compound leaves and attracts numerous pollinators during its long blooming season.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Poison-bean takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Common name includes 'poison' which may concern neighbors
  • Can appear weedy or wild in formal landscapes
  • Annual growth habit means gaps in winter

Wildlife value

Host plant for cloudless sulphur butterfly, silver-spotted skipper.

The abundant flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies throughout the growing season. As a legume, it also fixes nitrogen in the soil, benefiting surrounding plants.

Common questions

How much sun does Poison-bean need?
Poison-bean grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Poison-bean bloom?
Poison-bean blooms in May, June, July, August, and September.
Where is Poison-bean native?
Poison-bean (Sesbania drummondii) is native to AL, FL, LA, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What butterflies or moths does Poison-bean host?
Poison-bean is a larval host plant for cloudless sulphur butterfly and silver-spotted skipper.
Is Poison-bean HOA-friendly?
Poison-bean takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Poison-bean? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app