Sesbania punicea

Photo: Frank Wallace

Synonyms: Sesbania punicea, Sesbania tripetii, Daubentonia punicea

Common names: scarlet Wisteria; red Sesbania; rattlebox; Chinese Wisteria

Sesbania punicea (red Sesbania, scarlet Wisteria) is a deciduous shrub or small tree (family Fabaceae), up to 4 meters tall. Sesbania punicea is mostly found in riparian areas in the Central Valley, forming clusters so thick that access to the river becomes difficult to impossible. It displaces native plants used by wildlife and contributes to bank erosion and flooding.

Cal-IPC Rating: High?

CDFA Rating: -*?

Assessment(s)

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Species ID Card

Invasive Species ID Card - To support field identification of early detection species, Cal-IPC has designed a set of Species ID cards that can be downloaded, printed double-sided, and trimmed to size.

Weed Management Notes

  • Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

Other Sesbania punicea Information

  • Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.
  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
  • CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
  • EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
  • Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
  • Additional photos

    Sesbania punicea_scarlet wisteria fruits_Mona Robison_cropped
    Sesbania punicea (scarlet Wisteria) fruits. Photo: Mona Robison
    Sesbania punicea_scarlet wisteria habit_Mona Robison_cropped
    Sesbania punicea (scarlet Wisteria) growth habit. Photo: Mona Robison