English (United Kingdom) 
Russian (Russia) Cassia
Family. Legumes.
Origin. Australia and Africa.
Description. Most species of cassia are evergreen shrubs or trees, deciduous species are less common.
The leaves are green, glossy, compound, with 4 to 12 pairs of ovate-lanceolate leaflets up to 10 cm long.
The flowers are mostly yellow, but can be pink, orange, red, white, 3 - 7 cm in diameter, with 5 petals, fragrant, collected in large, dense racemes up to 60 cm long.
After flowering, seed pods form on the plant.
Height. In culture 1 - 3 m.
Growing and care
In February - March, trim side shoots to half their length to maintain a compact shape. Old, dead branches are cut out during the growing season with sharp, sterile pruning shears. It tolerates pruning well. In spring and summer, it is advisable to place cassia outdoors.
Flowering time
From April to September. With good care, the plant can bloom all year round.
Soil
Cassia adapts well to any type of soil with a neutral pH, as long as it has good drainage. A mixture of equal parts peat and leaf humus with the addition of coarse river sand is suitable.
Diseases and pests
Aphids and whiteflies, mealybugs, leaf spot.
Reproduction
It is propagated by stem cuttings, which are rooted in the spring in a mixture of wet peat and sand. Such plants bloom the following year. Cassia seeds are sown in the spring in loose soil and placed in a cool place with a temperature of 16 - 20 °C and light soil. Beforehand, the seeds must be soaked in warm water for a day, as they are very hard.
Temperature
When kept in rooms with a temperature of about 20 ° C, many species become evergreen. During the dormant period, the temperature minimum is 10° C. If the plant is given a dormant period, flowering will be more abundant.
Lighting
Provide the bush with a place where it will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Shading is possible only on very hot summer days.
Feeding
During the growing season, feed 2 times a month with complex liquid fertilizers. If kept in warm conditions in winter, you can feed every month.
Spraying
Spray cassia periodically to prevent pest infestation.
Watering
Mature specimens are extremely drought tolerant, but water generously during active growth and allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. In winter, watering frequency will depend on temperature.
Transfer
It grows quite quickly, young seedlings need to be replanted each year in spring into a larger pot. For larger tub plants, change the top layer of soil annually.
Purpose
From the leaves and shoots of the plant, essential oil is obtained, which has a pleasant spicy aroma; it is believed that it improves immunity, and also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties, and simply saves from depression in the cold season.
Note
The seeds are poisonous - keep the plant away from children and pets. Cassia bark has a pleasant aroma and is often passed off as the popular spice cinnamon, but this is not entirely true. True cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree (cassia sinensis), which has a very limited growing area and is quite expensive. Cassia bark is much cheaper to produce, and despite its very pleasant aroma, it contains a large amount of coumarin, which is not good for health. True cinnamon has a more subtle aroma and a lighter shade, while cassia bark is even rougher to the touch, as it is removed from mature plants.
Varieties:
Cassia acutifolia
A small loose shrub, which often does not exceed 1 m in height. The leaves are compound, consist of 4 - 6 pairs of oblong green leaves, and have long petioles. The flowers are golden yellow, collected in large inflorescences at the tops of the shoots. After flowering, the plant forms oblong green pods, each of which carries 6 seeds - peas. The leaves and pods of this plant have choleretic and laxative properties and are used as a means for weight loss - they are added to green tea.
Cassia fistula
A large tree, about 10 m high, with feathery compound leaves consisting of- 8 pairs of oblong green leaves. The plant has a very long flowering period - up to six months in optimal conditions. The flowers are golden yellow, with 5 petals, collected in large inflorescences suspended under the branches.
Cassia javanica
A large tree with spreading, lacy-like bark formed by thin branches with long, complex, bluish-green leaves. Each leaf can consist of several dozen pairs of leaflets. A special feature of this species is its flowers - soft pink or salmon, collected in large inflorescences. Flowering is very abundant.
Cassia obtussifoliae
A powder is obtained from cassia obtufolia, which is also called colorless henna and is used in cosmetology - in particular in hair care products. Having a great positive effect on the condition of the hair and scalp, this product does not color the curls in a reddish tint like regular henna.
